Bird-shaped kites and a floating scarecrow are being tested by Cornish fishers to prevent endangered seabirds from drowning in fishing nets. A two-year study has shown that simple deterrents can significantly reduce the number of razorbills and guillemots accidentally caught in nets.

The Problem

Every year, an estimated 95,000 diving birds, including razorbills and guillemots, are trapped underwater off European coasts. This alarming figure highlights the urgent need for effective solutions to protect these vulnerable species.

Innovative Solutions

The floating scarecrow, or looming-eyes buoy (LEB), features a spinning head with two large eyes designed to scare diving birds away from gillnets, which are walls of netting hanging vertically beneath the surface. The LEB was tested alongside a commercially available scarybird kite.

Research and Results

Ten Cornish fishers collaborated with Fishtek Marine, the creator of the LEB, to monitor seabird behavior using cameras fitted to their boats. The results, analyzed by scientists from the University of Exeter and published in the journal Conservation Letters, revealed:

  • A 59% reduction in the chance of seabirds being caught in gillnets when using LEBs.
  • A 71% reduction when using kites.