Fish Guidance Systems (FGS) has been been helping to balance human impact on the aquatic world for thirty years. 

Since 1994, the company has been at the forefront of innovative technology which has helped protect both critical infrastructure and countless fish and eels through the use of sound, light, bubbles and more.  

The company was founded by aquatic biologists and underwater acoustics specialists with an adaptable, analytical and evidence based approach at its core.

Some of FGS’s earliest work involved efforts to divert fish away from the cooling intakes of power plants. These projects saw the development of systems that generated sound as a signal aimed to keep a broad  fish population out of intakes. 

The first significant installation was at Hartlepool, followed by the company’s longest-running system at Doel Nuclear Power Plant in Belgium, a system which is still in operation today. Both projects were crucial in establishing FGS’ reputation for effectiveness and reliability, and the technology developed during that time served as the basis for the systems that are being installed today. 

As FGS developed, it expanded its focus on power stations to encompass fisheries management. Notably, FGS has been involved in addressing invasive carp issues in the Mississippi River and protecting endangered fish species in California. One of the company’s installations, a BAFF system at Georgiana Slough, demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to preserving aquatic ecosystems.

FGS has continually innovated, developing new systems such as High-Frequency (HF) deterrent systems, alongside other systems such as SILAS, BAFF and others. The company’s latest projects include a significant undertaking in New York State.

Through its scientific approach and collaboration with global experts, FGS remains dedicated to delivering better and more challenge beating solutions to meet developing regulatory and environmental needs. 

The same scientific and innovative approach after thirty years.

FGS’s values and approach are still based on the same principles as when they first formed. 

Adaptability

Systems can be tailored to different species, including invasive carp, salmon and eels, controlling their movement with sound projector arrays, high-intensity lights, and other novel developments. 

Analytical

The company’s process begins with a detailed analysis of the environment and client requirements, followed by the development of a unique design that accounts for individual species and the wider ecosystem.

Evidence Based

FGS is committed to maintaining the natural balance of the environment, a responsibility often aligned with regulatory requirements. The company’s expertise is supported by extensive research and trials into the most effective deterrence and guidance techniques. This experience is complemented by expertise in aquatic biology, acoustics, electronic, electrical, and mechanical engineering, and software development.

Acoustic and light-based behavioural systems are proven to be more effective than physical screens, particularly where waterways need to remain navigable, and when fish need to be diverted from large volume flows where debris puts physical barriers at risk. FGS’s continued investment in research and development ensures that its systems remain at the cutting edge of technology and scientific evidence.