Floating scarecrows and bird kites cut seabird bycatch in Cornish gillnets, trial finds
A two-year trial off Cornwall found that floating scarecrow buoys and bird-shaped kites reduced seabird bycatch in gillnets by 59% and 71%, according to research published in Conservation Letters.
Every year an estimated 95,000 diving birds, including razorbills and guillemots, are accidentally caught in nets off European coasts, The Guardian reported. Gillnets are walls of netting that hang vertically beneath the surface.
The LEB has a spinning head with two large eyes intended to scare diving birds away from gillnets. It was tested alongside a commercially available scarybird kite. Ten Cornish fishers and Fishtek Marine, which created the LEB, fitted cameras to boats to monitor the effect of the devices on seabird behaviour.
Scientists from the University of Exeter analysed the results. They showed that the chance of seabirds being caught in gillnets fell by 59% using LEBs and by 71% using kites. The research also revealed that in Cornwall most seabirds were caught in winter, which will help target the use of the devices by season.
Tom Horton, lead author of the University of Exeter research, said: “This study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that simple, practical deterrents can substantially reduce seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries. By also identifying when and where bycatch risk is highest, we now have a clear opportunity to target mitigation measures where they can deliver the greatest conservation benefit for vulnerable seabird populations and encourage sustainable fishing practices.”
Yann Rouxel, bycatch programme manager at the RSPB, said: “After over a decade of research into gillnet bycatch and its solutions, it’s great to see this work moving towards real-world implementation. The performance of the LEB and kite, as evidenced in this study, is a major milestone in the effort to reduce seabird bycatch without impeding gillnet fishers while at sea.”