Fish Tracking & Aquatic Biologging Devices

Fish tracking devices and aquatic biologging systems allow researchers to investigate movement, swimming behaviour, habitat use, depth selection, activity and environmental responses in marine and freshwater animals.

At TechnoSmArt, we develop customizable animal tracking systems for fish, sharks and other aquatic species, as well as bivalves and selected aquatic invertebrates.

Unlike many bird tracking applications, absolute device weight is often not the main design constraint for fish and larger aquatic animals. Instead, researchers must consider animal morphology, hydrodynamic profile, drag, buoyancy, attachment or implantation method, maximum depth and recovery strategy.

Our systems can combine tri-axial acceleration, magnetometry, pressure/depth, temperature, GPS, light, CO₂, wet/dry sensors and proximity logging.

Depending on the application, selected configurations can also use UHF, LTE cellular connectivity or Iridium satellite communication.

Because radio and satellite signals do not propagate effectively underwater, GPS, LTE, Iridium and UHF communication require the antenna to reach or remain sufficiently exposed above the water surface.

Attachment methods can include external attachments, customized housings, suture-based mounting systems and surgical implantation in selected fish studies.

For each project, we configure the device around the species, research question and aquatic environment.

Choose the Right Device

Choosing a fish tracking device or aquatic biologger depends on:

• species and morphology
• marine or freshwater habitat
• swimming behaviour
• diving behaviour
• maximum depth
• attachment or implantation method
• deployment duration
• required sensors
• device recovery probability
• access to the surface
• communication requirements

For fully submerged animals, GPS and radio-based communication cannot be used in the same way as terrestrial tracking systems.

However, accelerometers, magnetometers, pressure sensors, temperature sensors and other biologging sensors can record continuously underwater.

The Base Station is not a tracking device. It is the fixed receiver used with compatible Remote devices for automatic UHF data retrieval when the logger is within communication range and radio conditions permit communication.

Explore Our Fish Tracking and Biologging Devices

Compare GPS loggers, remote-download systems, accelerometer biologgers and multi-sensor solutions for avian research.

Fish Behaviour and Activity

Fish biologging provides fine-scale behavioural information that geographic positions alone cannot reveal.

Acceleration and magnetometry can support research on:

• swimming activity
• behavioural states
• tailbeat frequency
• activity budgets
• foraging
• relative energy expenditure

Pressure and temperature sensing can add information on vertical movement and environmental conditions.

For selected fish species, compact archival biologgers can also be surgically implanted or integrated into suture-based attachment protocols.

Depth, Diving and Multi-Sensor Biologging

For many aquatic animals, the vertical component of movement is fundamental.

Waterproof multi-sensor systems can combine:

• GPS when surface access is available
• tri-axial acceleration
• pressure/depth
• temperature
• magnetometry
• light
• CO₂
• wet/dry sensing

Available configurations can support shallow-water research as well as deep-diving deployments down to approximately 1,000 m.

Fish and Aquatic Animal Tracking

Different aquatic species require different tracking approaches.

A pelagic fish, benthic fish, shark, surface-associated species or freshwater animal may require a completely different combination of sensors and recording schedules.

TechnoSmArt systems can therefore support:

• fine-scale behavioural monitoring
• fish movement tracking
• shark biologging
• marine animal tracking
• freshwater animal tracking
• vertical movement studies

Remote Data Transmission & Connectivity

Aquatic studies require particular care when selecting communication technology.

Depending on configuration, systems can use:

• archival data storage
• UHF remote download
• LTE cellular communication
• Iridium satellite communication

However, UHF, LTE and Iridium communication require the antenna to become sufficiently exposed to air.

Consequently, these technologies are most suitable for surface-accessible animals, floating or pop-up configurations, experimental systems or predictable surface locations.

LTE can provide remote transmission in areas with cellular coverage, while Iridium satellite connectivity can support data transmission from remote marine environments when the system reaches the surface.

Proximity Logging

Proximity systems can support selected aquatic research applications when radio conditions permit communication.

Possible applications include:

• associations between individuals
• aggregation
• group structure
• social interactions
• use of common surface locations

Underwater radio attenuation must always be considered during study design.

Bivalves and Aquatic Invertebrates

Aquatic biologging is not limited to fish and other vertebrates.

Valve-Trek supports fine-scale monitoring of bivalve behaviour by combining acceleration and magnetometry.

Applications can include:

• valve-opening cycles
• activity
• responses to environmental variation
• stress and disturbance
• aquaculture monitoring
• environmental monitoring

Optional pressure, temperature, light or other environmental sensors can provide additional context where the study configuration allows their integration.

Existing configurations can operate at substantial depth and similar approaches may be adapted to other suitable aquatic invertebrates.

Custom Fish Tracking and Aquatic Biologging Configurations

Customization is central to aquatic biologging.

TechnoSmArt can customize:

• batteries
• sensor combinations
• pressure/depth range
• waterproof housings
• device shape
• hydrodynamic profile
• attachment systems
• implantation configurations
• recording schedules
• antennas
• GPS schedules
• UHF communication
• LTE connectivity
• Iridium satellite communication
• light sensing
• CO₂ sensing

Attachment options can include:

• external attachment
• suture-based attachment
• surgical implantation in selected fish
• attachment to suitable fins or structures
• custom housings
• mounting bases
• species-specific systems
• dedicated bivalve attachments

In aquatic studies, device position, drag and buoyancy may be as important as device mass. These factors must be evaluated together with animal welfare and project objectives.

Research Applications

Research Applications

Movement & Habitat

• Fish movement tracking
• Marine habitat use
• Freshwater habitat use
• Migration and site fidelity
• Depth and vertical habitat use
• Surface-accessible GPS tracking

Behaviour & Bioenergetics

• Swimming activity
• Tailbeat frequency
• Behavioural classification
• Foraging
• Activity budgets
• Relative energy expenditure

Marine & Freshwater Research

• Fish biologging
• Shark biologging
• Marine animal tracking
• Freshwater animal tracking
• Deep-diving research
• Conservation monitoring

Aquaculture & Invertebrate Research

• Bivalve behaviour
• Valve-opening monitoring
• Aquaculture research
• Environmental response
• Aquatic invertebrate biologging

TechnoSmArt fish tracking and aquatic biologging systems can support study designs ranging from fine-scale monitoring of freshwater fish to deep-diving marine applications.

Custom sensors, waterproof housings, implantation or external attachment methods and flexible communication systems allow researchers to adapt the technology to the species and environment.

Published Research

Examples of peer-reviewed research using TechnoSmArt devices on fish.

Novel tag-based method for measuring tailbeat frequency and variations in amplitude in fish
Warren-Myers et al. (2023), Animal Biotelemetry
TechnoSmArt Axy 5 S accelerometers were implanted in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and used to derive tailbeat frequency and relative changes in tailbeat amplitude from high-resolution acceleration data.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-023-00324-3

Using heart rate and acceleration biologgers to estimate winter activity costs in free-swimming largemouth bass
Reeve et al. (2024), Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A
TechnoSmArt Axy-5 biologgers were implanted in largemouth bass to record tri-axial acceleration and investigate swimming activity and energetic costs under winter conditions.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111708

See all published research using TechnoSmArt devices

Find the Right Device

Not sure which configuration is suitable for your study? Tell us the target species, body size, aquatic environment, maximum depth, required sensors, deployment duration and attachment method. We can help identify the most appropriate device and configuration.

FAQ