Marine turtle acoustic repellent/alerting apparatus and method

A marine turtle alerting system, comprising:

• an acoustic signal generator for generating a first acoustic signal of less than 200 Hz, a second acoustic signal of between 200 Hz, and 900 Hz, and a third acoustic signal of between 900 Hz, and 15 kHz;
• an acoustic output device for outputting at least one of the first, second and third acoustic signals;
• a frequency multiplier for modulating the first, second and third acoustic signals with an ultrasound carrier so as to create a first, second and third ultrasonic signal, respectively;
• an ultrasonic output device for outputting at least one of the first, second and third ultrasonic signals;
• and
• a selector for selecting, in a random or pseudo-random manner, one of the first, second and third acoustic signals to be output by the acoustic output, along with one of the first, second, and third ultrasonic signals to be output by the ultrasonic output device, as a pair of output signals that are output during one time interval,
• wherein the first, second and third acoustic signals and the first, second and third ultrasonic signals affect an auditory system of a marine turtle in order to alert the marine turtle and cause movement of the marine turtle, and
• wherein the selector operates such that the marine turtle is provided with different pairs of signals for different contiguous time intervals, so that the marine turtle does not become accustomed to any one particular pair of output signals.

A marine turtle alerting system, comprising:

• an acoustic signal generator for generating a first acoustic signal of less than 200 Hz, a second acoustic signal of between 200 Hz, to 900 Hz, and a third acoustic signal of between 900 Hz, and 15 kHz;
• an acoustic output device for outputting the first, second and third acoustic signals;
• a modulator for modulating the first, second and third acoustic signals with an ultrasound signal so as to create a first, second and third modulated signal, respectively;
• and
• an output device for outputting the first, second and third modulated signals,
• wherein the first, second and third acoustic signals and the first, second and third modulated signals affect an auditory system of a turtle in order to alert the turtle and cause movement of the turtle, and
• wherein the first, second and third acoustic signals operate to alert the turtle when the turtle is located at or near a bottom surface of a body of water in which the turtle is located, and the first, second and third modulated signals operate to alert the turtle when the turtle is located at or near a top surface of the body of water or in a middle depth region of the body of water.

A marine turtle alerting method, comprising:

• generating a first acoustic signal of less than 200 Hz, a second acoustic signal of between 200 Hz, and 900 Hz, and a third acoustic signal of between 900 Hz, and 15 kHz;
• amplitude modulating the first, second and third acoustic signals with an ultrasound carrier to provide first, second and third modulated signals;
• outputting the first, second and third acoustic signals and the first, second and third modulated signals,
• wherein the first, second and third acoustic signals affect an auditory system of a turtle in order to alert the turtle and cause movement of the turtle, and
• wherein the first, second and third acoustic signals operate to alert the turtle when the turtle is located at or near a bottom surface of a body of water in which the turtle is located, and the first, second and third modulated signals operate to alert the turtle when the turtle is located at or near a top surface of the body of water or in a middle depth region of the body of water.

A marine turtle alerting system, comprising:

• an acoustic signal generator for generating a first acoustic signal of below 200 Hz, a second acoustic signal of between 200 Hz, and 900 Hz, and a third acoustic signal of between 900 Hz, and 15 kHz;
• and
• an output device for outputting the first, second and third acoustic signals,
• wherein the first, second and third acoustic signals affect an auditory system of a turtle in order to alert the turtle and cause movement of the turtle, and
• wherein, when the turtle is located at or near an upper surface of a body of water or at or near a bottom surface of the body of water, the first acoustic signal causes the turtle to be alerted and move away from the upper surface or the lower surface, respectively, and
• wherein the second acoustic signal corresponds to a most sensitive aural frequency range of the turtle in order to cause the turtle to be alerted and thereby move, and
• wherein the third acoustic signal corresponds to a middle ear resonant frequency of the turtle in order to cause the turtle to be alerted and thereby move.