Scientists use sound to bring fish to reefs
Researchers played underwater recordings to lure fish back to damaged sections of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
In 2019, an international group tested acoustic enrichment on a severely harmed part of the Great Barrier Reef. They installed loudspeakers in dead coral zones to broadcast recordings of healthy marine environments nearby.
Tim Gordon stated that increasing fish numbers helps restart natural healing for coral systems globally. Professor Steve Simpson said juvenile fish locate new homes by listening to specific underwater noises created by living reefs.
After six weeks of playing sounds, fish arrival doubled in treated areas compared to silent patches. Biodiversity also rose by 50%, introducing many different species needed for a functioning ecosystem to work properly again.
In 2026, Jamaican scientists are testing similar methods using solar-powered speakers on art sculptures near their northern coast. This project blends creative design with science to broadcast healthy reef audio to attract returning marine life.
“Boosting fish populations in this way could help to kick-start natural recovery processes”