Future Oceans

Future Oceans is an Australian company founded in 2008 by surfer, sailor and entrepreneur James Turner, dedicated to reducing cetacean bycatch — the drowning of whales and dolphins in fishing nets — through acoustic deterrent devices known as pingers. The company describes cetacean bycatch as the single largest threat to all whales and dolphins, citing that over one million marine animals drown in fishing nets every year and that more than 1,000 whales and dolphins drown unnecessarily in nets without pingers every day. Pingers are small acoustic alarms that attach easily to fishing nets; whales and dolphins hear them and avoid the nets. Future Oceans states that pingers are the only scientifically proven solution to prevent cetacean bycatch. The company was born after Turner, who had spent 18 years in Europe establishing travel and sports marketing companies in Switzerland, the UK and Italy, returned to Australia in 2001. Upon discovering that over 300,000 whales and dolphins were drowning in fishing nets every year and that scientific evidence showed the problem could be solved using pingers, he was compelled to act. With the support of long-time friend and business partner Hanspeter Gubler, Future Oceans has grown to lead the world in pinger design and manufacturing. The company develops its pinger technology with Nextlab, an innovation and technology company based at the University of Technology in Sofia, founded by Prof. Dr. Nikolay (Nik) Iliev, a cybernetic engineering academic who also founded Datecs, one of the world's largest wireless credit card terminal manufacturers. Future Oceans pingers are currently in use in over 40 countries worldwide. They are used by researchers in scientific experiments, by non-profit organizations delivering pingers to artisanal fishermen in developing countries, and by fishermen who use them voluntarily or under government mandates. The company notes that less than 10% of the world's 220,000+ gill net fishing vessels use pingers today, and that 125 countries have fisheries that need them. Future Oceans positions itself at the intersection of marine conservation and commercial fishing gear, with a mission to raise awareness of the importance of oceans through the protection of whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife.

Future Oceans was founded in 2008 by James Turner, an Australian surfer, sailor and entrepreneur. Before founding the company, Turner spent 18 years in Europe, establishing successful travel and sports marketing companies in Switzerland, the UK and Italy. In 2001 he returned to Australia. It was then that he discovered that over 300,000 whales and dolphins were drowning in fishing nets every year, and that scientific evidence showed the problem could be solved using pingers — small acoustic alarms attached to fishing nets that whales and dolphins can hear and avoid. Compelled to act, Turner founded Future Oceans with the sole mission of increasing the use of pingers worldwide. With the support of long-time friend and business partner Hanspeter Gubler, Future Oceans grew to lead the world in pinger design and manufacturing. Over the years, Turner developed relationships with government agencies and representatives, scientists and researchers, fishing associations and environmental groups to advance pinger adoption. The company develops its pinger technology in collaboration with Nextlab, an innovation and technology company based at the University of Technology in Sofia, founded in 2017 by Prof. Dr. Nikolay (Nik) Iliev. Prof. Iliev is a cybernetic engineering academic who previously founded Datecs, one of the world's largest wireless credit card terminal manufacturers. At Nextlab, he is supported by a team of senior PhD and graduating students selected to undertake master's degrees. After many years of success at Datecs, Prof. Iliev turned to collaborating with Future Oceans and other organizations focused on urgent marine and terrestrial environmental challenges. By the 2020s, Future Oceans pingers were in use in over 40 countries worldwide. They are used by researchers in scientific experiments, by non-profit organizations delivering pingers to artisanal fishermen in developing countries, and by fishermen who use them voluntarily or under government mandates. The company continues to advocate for broader adoption, noting that less than 10% of the world's 220,000+ gill net fishing vessels use pingers today and that 125 countries have fisheries that need them. Future Oceans describes pingers as one of the world's fastest growing marine environmental industries.

• 2017

  Nextlab founded by Prof. Dr. Nikolay Iliev at the University of Technology in Sofia; becomes Future Oceans' technology partner.

• 2008

  Future Oceans founded by James Turner.

• 2001

  James Turner returns to Australia after 18 years in Europe.

Marine conservation technology; the world leader in pinger design and manufacturing, providing the only scientifically proven solution to prevent cetacean bycatch.

• Future Oceans Pingers

  Small acoustic alarms attached to fishing nets that deter whales and dolphins, preventing cetacean bycatch.

1. 1Future Oceans Pingers - Reduce Bycatch - Sustainable Fishing Gearfutureoceans.com
2. 2Future Oceans - Acoustic Marine Pingers - Bycatch Reductionfutureoceans.com
3. 3Future Oceanswikidata.org