What Biosonics does

BioSonics, Inc. is a Seattle-based, family-owned designer and manufacturer of hydroacoustic sonar systems used for scientific monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. Founded in 1978 by Bill Acker, a former Professor of Engineering and Senior Scientist at the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory, the company pioneered the application of hydroacoustics to fisheries and aquatic resource assessment. Its product portfolio centers on scientific split-beam and single-beam echo sounders (DT-X Extreme, DT-X SUB, DT-X AMS, MX, and the 2024-launched DTZ Explore), the Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer (a 360-degree sonar with marine-mammal-friendly low-frequency suppression), a software suite (Visual Aquatic, Visual Acquisition, VisAcq AutoTrack, Visual Analyzer), and accessories such as tow bodies and transducer rotators. The technology stack includes edge computing, System-on-Chip architecture, cloud-connected real-time reporting, and integration with autonomous platforms including AUVs, USVs, wave gliders, and cabled ocean observatories. BioSonics holds dozens of patents including the world's first omnidirectional marine mammal detection, tracking, and classification system, and claims benchmark projects including billions of salmon counted on the Columbia and Snake River systems and the first automated adult sockeye salmon counter at Quinault River.

The company serves four primary verticals: fisheries and aquatic habitat research, marine renewable energy (offshore wind, wave, tidal), aquaculture, and waterside safety and security. Named customers include U.S. federal agencies (USGS, NOAA, DOE, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TVA, Department of Homeland Security), large utilities (Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Boralex, BC Hydro, NYPA), marine energy developers (C-Power, Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy), academic and research institutions (University of Washington, Scripps, Cornell, Scripps), and tribal/national fisheries commissions (Gitanyow, Skeena). Revenue is generated through quote-based hardware sales, included software licenses, training and consulting services, and calibration and repair services. Distribution is direct in North America and channel-based through an exclusive international sales agency (SUBSEA 20/20 Inc.) and a global network of more than 30 exclusive regional sales agents spanning Latin America, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. The company remains family-controlled under CEO Tim Acker and CFO Bev Acker, with no institutional outside investment.

Name

Biosonics

Legal name

BioSonics, Inc.

Website

https://biosonicsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BioSonics designs and manufactures scientific hydroacoustic sonar systems (echo sounders, omnidirectional marine life observers, and analysis software) for fisheries research, marine renewable energy, aquaculture, and waterside safety, serving federal agencies, utilities, researchers, and fisheries authorities worldwide from its Seattle headquarters since 1978.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Hydroacoustic Sonar Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems (IMABAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services (AFAEAAAK), Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM), Environmental DNA (eDNA) & Advanced Biodiversity Methods (Bioacoustics, Camera Traps) (EUAHAHAM)

Keywords

• Hydroacoustic monitoring systems
• Scientific echo sounders
• Aquatic ecosystem monitoring
• Marine life sonar detection
• Fisheries hydroacoustic technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hydroacoustic Hardware Systems: BioSonics designs, manufactures, and sells scientific echo sounder systems (DT-X series, MX series, Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer) and associated accessories (tow bodies, transducer rotators, cables, mounts). Revenue is generated from product sales, which are customized and quote-based per application.
2. Software Licenses and Updates: BioSonics provides data acquisition, visualization, and post-processing software (Visual Aquatic, Visual Acquisition, VisAcq AutoTrack, Visual Analyzer) included with hardware purchase and provides software updates and license keys to customers. Software support is provided as part of the product offering.
3. Training and Consulting Services: BioSonics offers Hydroacoustic Assessment Workshops (held at Seattle headquarters) and on-site classroom/on-the-job training for hydroacoustic applications. Consulting services include feasibility studies, study design, equipment installation, data collection, system design, and R&D.
4. Calibration and Repair Services: BioSonics provides calibration services using reference-standard transducers in their hydroacoustic calibration facility, repair services for all BioSonic products, and warranty service. A complete inventory of rental echo sounder system components is maintained for quick shipment to prevent project downtime.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BioSonics designs, manufactures, and sells scientific hydroacoustic echo sounder systems and proprietary analysis software used to monitor fish, marine mammals, vegetation, substrate, and bathymetry in lakes, rivers, estuaries, and marine environments. The product portfolio includes split-beam and single-beam echo sounders for mobile surveys, fixed-location automated monitoring, submersible autonomous deployments, omnidirectional perimeter detection, and integration with AUV/USV platforms, bundled with data acquisition and post-processing software.

Product overview

BioSonics offers a unified portfolio of hydroacoustic aquatic ecosystem monitoring solutions centered on scientific echo sounder hardware and proprietary analysis software. The core product line includes the DT-X Extreme (portable/autonomous scientific echo sounder), DT-X SUB (submersible autonomous unit), DT-X AMS (fixed-location automated monitoring system), MX Aquatic Habitat Echo Sounder (rapid assessment mapping tool), and the new DTZ Explore (first fully autonomous split beam sonar). The Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer provides 360-degree marine life detection. Supporting software includes Visual Aquatic (post-processing and mapping), Visual Acquisition (data collection), VisAcq AutoTrack (real-time fish tracking), and Visual Analyzer (fisheries stock assessment). Accessories include BioFin tow bodies, transducer rotators, and custom mounting systems. Products work standalone or integrated with ASV/AUV platforms and provide real-time digital insights for fisheries management, aquaculture, renewable energy, and environmental monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DT-X Extreme Scientific Echo Sounder Versatile scientific echo sounder system operating with split beam or single beam transducers; functions as a portable mobile survey system, fully autonomous system for ASV/USV surveys, surface buoys, and fixed location monitoring, producing accurate, high resolution water column data for fisheries management and research.
• DT-X SUB Submersible Echo Sounder Self-contained echo sounder for autonomous deployments where cabling to surface is impractical. Pressure-rated housing adaptable for AUV, ROV, or seafloor observatory platform deployment, with multi-frequency configurations up to 1000 kHz and simultaneous transmission across all frequencies.
• DT-X AMS Automated Monitoring System Fixed location, long-term or permanent deployment system for observing the underwater environment over weeks, months or years. Monitors passage, migration and entrainment of fish, marine mammals and debris at cooling water intakes, dams, marine hydrokinetic projects, and other structures with patented networked sonar acoustic curtain technology.
• MX Aquatic Habitat Echo Sounder Low cost, turn-key solution for rapid assessment and mapping of aquatic vegetation, substrate, and bathymetry. Portable system for mobile survey deployment from small boats or research vessels in lakes, rivers, estuaries, or shallow marine environments.
• Autonomous Platform Echo Sounders Low power, modular echo sounders in form factors ideal for integration with ASV and AUV platforms, including Maritime Robotics Otter USV, Liquid Robotics Wave Glider, and Remus AUV, for fully autonomous unmanned habitat and fisheries surveys.
• Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer First-of-its-kind 360-degree omnidirectional perimeter detection sonar with marine mammal friendly low frequency sound suppression. Long-range target detection, classification and reporting system for monitoring marine life around energy devices and critical infrastructure, with 3-D target tracking and localization and continuous cloud data transmission.
• DTZ Explore First fully autonomous scientific split beam sonar system housed in a compact, low-power submersible unit. Capable of long-term, full water column data collection and real-time biological event reporting, with 6-watt power consumption, 1TB raw data storage, onboard edge computing, and marine mammal friendly sonar at 200 kHz.
• Visual Aquatic Software Post-processing software for analyzing data from MX and DT-X echo sounders. Visualizes, quantifies and assesses the aquatic ecosystem including fish tracks, submerged plant canopy height, substrate classification, and generates colored layered contour habitat maps exportable to CSV or KML for GIS mapping.
• Visual Acquisition Software Hydroacoustic data acquisition software included with every BioSonics echo sounder. Simultaneously acquires aquatic ecosystem data on fish and marine life, aquatic vegetation, seabed, and bathymetry, with built-in VisAcq AutoTrack real-time processing for fish track building and echo list generation.
• Visual Analyzer Software Post-processing data analysis software for fisheries assessment, providing accurate assessment of fish and plankton stocks with information about fish location, quantity, size, behavior, and biomass. Results readable directly into GIS or other applications.
• BioFin Tow Body and Transducer Accessories Includes BioFin tow bodies customizable to accommodate up to four transducers, dual axis transducer rotators for precise or variable aiming angles, towing cables, and custom mount design services for safe deployment in virtually any aquatic environment.
• Hydroacoustic Assessment Workshops and Training Hydroacoustic Assessment Workshops held at BioSonics' Seattle headquarters and on-site classroom/on-the-job training covering hydroacoustic survey methods, sonar operation, and data processing. Includes free lifetime technical support for hardware and software users.
• Hydroacoustic Consulting and Feasibility Services Consulting services covering feasibility studies, hydroacoustic study design, equipment installation, data collection, custom system design, and R&D collaboration for customers needing hydroacoustic monitoring solutions.
• Calibration and Repair Services Calibration services using reference-standard transducers in BioSonics' hydroacoustic calibration facility, repair services for all BioSonics products, warranty service, and a complete inventory of rental echo sounder system components for quick shipment to prevent project downtime.

Quantifiable outcome

• BioSonics sonar technology enabled Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant (second largest in the US at 4,000 MW) to detect and mitigate drifting vegetation events, avoiding costly emergency plant shutdowns that occurred in 2020.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gitanyow Fisheries AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024In May 2024, BioSonics deployed a custom scientific sonar system in the Meziadin River, British Columbia, for the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority. The system of five sonar pods was designed specifically for monitoring out-migrating sockeye salmon smolt, operating continuously for seven weeks via solar power and Starlink connectivity.
• Skeena Fisheries CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024BioSonics collaborated with the Skeena Fisheries Commission (representing the Gitxsan, Gitanyow, and Wet'suwet'en Nations) on the Meziadin River salmon smolt monitoring project. Fisheries biologist Janvier Doire led the project and coordinated closely with the BioSonics team to implement the cutting-edge hydroacoustic solution.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNNL's Marine and Coastal Research Lab was the site for testing and optimization of the Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer developed with support from the DOE Water Power Technologies Office's Triton Initiative. BioSonics technology was field tested at PNNL's Sequim, Washington facility.
• U.S. Department of Energy – Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DOE WPTO Triton Initiative aims to reduce barriers to testing marine energy devices by researching and developing scientifically defensible monitoring technologies. BioSonics developed the Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer with Triton support and participates in field trials and validation testing.
• C-PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Omnidirectional Marine Life Observer will be deployed alongside C-Power's SeaRAY marine energy device at the Navy's Wave Energy Test Site (WETS) in Hawaii. The SeaRAY provides power and cloud connectivity to the BioSonics monitoring system.
• Zealquest Scientific Technology (China)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBioSonics has maintained a 14-year partnership with Zealquest Scientific as its exclusive sales agent in China. Zealquest represented BioSonics at the AFAS International Conference in Shanghai and supports fisheries science advancement in China and throughout Asia.
• NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBioSonics serves as a mentor and local expert for the NATO DIANA program, offering expertise and insight to participating companies developing dual-use technology solutions for commercial markets as well as defense and security applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Teledyne Marine (RESON): Teledyne Marine's RESON and Odom brands supply multibeam and single-beam hydroacoustic systems used in hydrography, dredging, and underwater surveys. While its focus is broader, it overlaps with BioSonics in shallow-water mapping, marine renewable energy site surveys, and acoustic monitoring deployments.
• Furuno: Furuno is a global marine electronics manufacturer offering commercial and scientific fish-finding sonar (FCV, FSV series) and acoustic survey systems. It serves commercial fishing and marine research markets that overlap with BioSonics' fisheries monitoring customer base.
• Nortek (Nortek Group): Nortek designs and manufactures oceanographic acoustic instruments (ADCPs, DVLs, signature hydrophones) for environmental, energy, and defense applications. It overlaps with BioSonics in marine renewable energy site characterization and underwater environmental monitoring deployments.
• Kongsberg Discovery (Simrad): Kongsberg's Simrad brand is a leading global supplier of scientific and commercial echosounders (e.g., EK80 wide-band scientific sonar), with a much larger product portfolio spanning naval, fisheries, and offshore markets. It competes directly with BioSonics in fisheries and marine renewable energy acoustic monitoring.

Direct peers

• Imagenex Technology Corp: Imagenex manufactures imaging, profiling, and side-scan sonar systems used in underwater inspection, ROV/AUV integration, and environmental monitoring. It is comparable to BioSonics as a smaller, specialized sonar vendor serving environmental and infrastructure monitoring use cases.
• Sound Metrics Corp: Sound Metrics makes DIDSON and ARIS acoustic cameras used for fish detection, dam passage monitoring, and underwater inspection. Like BioSonics, it serves fisheries agencies, hydropower operators, and security/defense customers with high-resolution imaging sonar for aquatic monitoring.
• Hydroacoustic Technology Inc (HTI): HTI is the closest direct competitor, manufacturing scientific split-beam and single-beam echo sounders for fisheries, plankton, and environmental monitoring. Its product line (e.g., 244/241/242 series echosounders) targets the same fisheries research, hydroelectric, and environmental consulting customers as BioSonics' DT-X series.

Others

• Echoview Software: Echoview is the dominant third-party hydroacoustic data analysis software, broadly interoperable with BioSonics DT-X SUB output. It is comparable because Echoview sits in the same ecosystem and competes loosely with BioSonics' Visual Analyzer as the analytical layer for fisheries acoustic data.
• Aquatic Informatics (Xylem): Aquatic Informatics provides environmental data management software for water resources, including fisheries and aquatic monitoring programs. It is comparable as an ecosystem participant whose software platforms can be deployed alongside hydroacoustic instruments like BioSonics' for fish passage and habitat studies.

Emerging players

• SonarMite (Dawn Publishing): SonarMite produces portable, low-cost single-beam hydroacoustic echo sounders targeted at small-scale fisheries assessments and habitat surveys. It overlaps with BioSonics' lower-cost MX Aquatic Habitat product line for rapid assessment mapping.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BioSonics
• Facebookfacebook.com/259499287670

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Biosonics