Keeping birds away from oysters could help farmers balance productivity and ecology

A great blue heron uses oyster cages as a fishing platform at the Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Lab & Team research farm at W&M's Batten School & VIMS. (Photo by John Wallace)

The following was adapted from a press release by Old Dominion University. - Ed.

Virginia ranks first in the nation in eastern oyster production, but growers face an emerging challenge to meet federal sanitation requirements related to bird interactions. Addressing this issue has become a shared priority across aquaculture research, regulation and industry. Now, a new collaboration between Old Dominion University and William & Mary aims to deliver a solution that works for farmers, regulators and wildlife alike.

Supported by nearly $1 million from the NOAA Sea Grant College Program, the cutting-edge project brings together researchers from William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS and Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC) with engineers at ODU's Virginia Institute for Spaceflight & Autonomy (VISA). By integrating autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and environmental science, the team will design and test an intelligent bird-deterrence system that protects shellfish farms while minimizing disruption to surrounding wildlife and coastal communities - a potential solution that helps sustain both Virginia's oyster industry and the many ecosystem services oysters provide.

Turning a practical problem into an opportunity for innovation

Federal shellfish sanitation regulations require growers to have bird-management plans in place to prevent contamination of aquaculture products. But most current deterrent strategies - from raptor-shaped kites that lose their effect as birds adapt to propane noise cannons that can frustrate nearby residents - are either too intrusive or too easily outsmarted.

This project aims to change that equation by introducing adaptive deterrent systems that activate only when needed. The team will integrate Sonic-Net acoustic technology, semi-autonomous vessels, listening sensors and AI-driven cameras to monitor bird activity in real time, triggering minimal and varied responses when birds are detected.

"Our goal is to develop something that is smarter and more efficient than what farmers have had access to before," said John Shull, principal investigator and lead project scientist at VISA, part of Old Dominion University's Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation.

"At the IIC, we're excited to collaborate on this project and test the sonic-net technology we've been developing with students for a decade," said John Swaddle, faculty director for W&M's IIC. "We hope that an ever-adapting 'smart' deployment of this tech, which uses specially designed sound to mask birds' hearing and persuade them to move elsewhere, will increase safety for oyster farmers, oyster consumers and waterfowl."

Partnerships that bridge technology and ecology

The project brings together complementary expertise across institutions:

• Old Dominion University's VISA leads the project, advancing research in autonomous systems, sensor networks and AI modeling.
• William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS through its Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Lab and Team (C-SALT), contributes extensive shellfish aquaculture knowledge, industry partnerships and field-testing capability.
• William & Mary's Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC) provides expertise in bird behavior, ecological design and conservation ethics to ensure the technologies developed remain environmentally sound and effective.

"The Batten School & VIMS seek to advance and support a thriving and sustainable shellfish aquaculture community in Virginia and the United States, working closely with the Virginia shellfish aquaculture industry," said Bill Walton, Ph.D., coordinator of the Batten School & VIMS' Shellfish Aquaculture Program. "Partnering with Old Dominion allows us to dive into the realm of intelligent technologies that support shellfish farms and the environments they depend on."

Field trials will begin at the C-SALT research farm and expand to commercial aquaculture sites across Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic. Results and open-source data will be shared through Sea Grant extension workshops and other stakeholder networks.

"We're excited to be part of this grant which reflects Old Dominion University's commitment to applying advanced research to solve real-world challenges that mariculture is facing," said Eric Weisel, senior associate vice president for applied research at Old Dominion University. "With this project, we are showing how interdisciplinary collaboration can support Virginia's vital shellfish industry while protecting wildlife and ensuring consumers are enjoying safe, nutritious seafood."

The project runs through the 2027 farming season and is supported by NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program through Virginia Sea Grant.

Staff, University News & Media

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