This study shows that the Banana and Aquatec 2446 “Seal-safe” pingers have no dinner-bell effect on seals and that the Banana pinger have a significant deterrent effect on porpoises. It should therefore be safe to say that at least the Banana pingers are safe for the fishermen to use in the Baltic Sea and hence might contribute to the survival of the endangered subpopulation of harbor porpoises in the Baltic sea.

Future studies are needed on the effect of the Aquatec “Seal-safe” pinger on porpoises. Also, further studies are needed of the possible dinner-bell effect of both these pingers on seals in real fishing gear and the fish preference in wild seals not engaged in fishing gear.