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McDonough said that orcas, particularly transient pods, prey on seals, sea lions and other marine life. They hunt in groups and they communicate through sound before they close in on their prey. Those sounds, he said, scare the seals enough that they leave the area if they hear them.

The Orca-Stra works both above and below water and it’s small enough to carry in a tackle box or jacket pocket. It is shaped like a flashlight, with the speaker facing out of the “light” end. To use it, McDonough said a fisherman need only point it at the seals, turn it on and wait for about 10 to 20 seconds.

McDonough has taken his device out on the open ocean to test “in the field” and so far, he and his friends have had good results.

As a bonus, McDonough said the Orca-Stra has the potential to prevent injury to seals that inadvertently ingest fishhooks or snag themselves when they grab and eat the hooked salmon.

“There is less chance of a seal suffering from a fishhook in the throat or body, as is sometimes the case,” he said.

McDonough added that the device is undergoing testing and getting set for production. He hopes to have it in sporting goods and fishing stores soon, and said a tentative agreement has been reached with a local store. If the plans work out the Orca-Stra is expected to sell for approximately $25.

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