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How TAST Supported Seal Management on the River Nene

Seals living in freshwater pose a difficult challenge. In the River Nene near Peterborough, five rehabilitated common seals became resident around 40 miles from the coast between 2022 and 2025. The seals were not simply passing through; they were feeding and hauling out in a lock-controlled freshwater system already under pressure, while fish numbers declined sharply in affected reaches. P&DAA worked with the Environment Agency, Natural England, RSPCA East Winch, rescue and veterinary specialists, the Angling Trust and GenusWave to develop a safe, non-lethal response.

GenusWave’s Targeted Acoustic Startle Technology (TAST) provided a way to move seals away from key river locations without harming them. Unlike conventional acoustic deterrent devices, which can produce frequent or continuous sound and may be ignored over time, TAST uses short, isolated signals to trigger a seal’s innate startle reflex. The seal moves away, and repeated exposure conditions it to avoid the area. TAST is designed to manage the movement of target animals without creating unnecessary underwater noise or affecting non-target species.

The River Nene project demonstrates how TAST can support a wider wildlife-management plan. While P&DAA and its partners gathered evidence, navigated the licencing process and prepared for safe capture. TAST then helped discourage seals from using key areas to make them easier to relocate. The final two seals, Daffodil and Trifle, were captured under veterinary supervision and returned to coastal habitat in 2025. The project also established a freshwater protocol for the use of TAST in England – giving fisheries, angling clubs and conservation partners a practical, humane option when seals become resident in unsuitable freshwater environments.

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