A Biomimetic Tympanic Cavity PVDF Hydrophone for Low-Frequency Bioacoustic Monitoring in Marine Aquaculture

Underwater acoustic monitoring is a critical technology for marine resource development and modern aquaculture. The performance of acoustic sensors directly determines the effectiveness of biological behavior tracking in complex marine environments. This paper presents the design, fabrication, and characterization of a custom hydrophone utilizing a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film configured in a biomimetic tympanic cavity structure. Operating on the direct piezoelectric effect, the device employs a pre-tensioned PVDF diaphragm integrated with a dedicated charge amplifier circuit to condition high-impedance signals. Laboratory calibrations demonstrate a stable frequency response (with a sensitivity variation within ±1 dB) in the low-frequency range (1–200 Hz) with an average acoustic pressure sensitivity of approximately −206 dB (re 1 V/μPa), providing a higher relative voltage gain compared to a commercial reference hydrophone with a nominal sensitivity of −210 dB (re 1 V/μPa). Furthermore, extensive field evaluations were conducted in a marine net pen to analyze acoustic data across multiple fish feeding scenarios (baseline, pre-feeding, active feeding, and post-feeding). The proposed custom hydrophone exhibited a superior dynamic range and successfully locked onto a 24.4 Hz Golden Pompano (Trachinotus blochii) bioacoustic signature, maintaining remarkable feature stability even after active feeding ceased. This study validates the efficacy of the biomimetic PVDF hydrophone for low-frequency acoustic detection, providing a robust hardware foundation for automated behavioral recognition systems in aquaculture.