The project aims to (1) develop a reliable, low-cost detection algorithm trained on open-source and locally recorded explosion sounds; (2) validate the prototype through a field deployment inside the Reserve; (3) strengthen local surveillance capacity through an illustrated technical manual and a hands-on workshop for SERNANP park rangers; and (4) publish all hardware, code and a peer-reviewed manuscript as open-access resources to enable scalable regional adoption.

Implementation combines field engineering, participatory technology transfer, and open-access dissemination. After testing, the system will be deployed at an authorised location within the Paracas National Reserve. During a three-month continuous test we will monitor system uptime, real-time transmission and automated detections, with manual review of recordings to measure accuracy and refine parameters to reduce false positives. A single-day, practical workshop for at least five park rangers and concise laminated quick guides will ensure institutional ownership and long-term usability.

Expected outcomes are: one operational system that demonstrates robust autonomous operation and real-time alerting; a training package and workshop that builds SERNANP technical capacity; an open-access GitHub repository with full documentation and schematics; and a peer-reviewed, open-access article describing system design, field validation and conservation implications. The system’s affordability and open-source design aim to accelerate replication across Peruvian reserves and other developing-country contexts, improving enforcement against blast fishing and helping conserve keystone habitats and threatened species in the Humboldt Current system.