Key facts
- Kites reduced seabird bycatch in gillnets by 71%.
- A floating scarecrow buoy reduced bycatch by 59%.
- An estimated 95,000 diving seabirds are caught in nets annually off European coasts.
- Most seabird bycatch in Cornwall occurs in winter.
- The research was conducted by the University of Exeter and published in Conservation Letters.
Simple deterrents, including bird-shaped kites and a "looming-eyes buoy" (LEB), have shown significant success in reducing the number of endangered seabirds accidentally caught in fishing nets off European coasts. An estimated 95,000 diving birds, such as razorbills and guillemots, fall victim to gillnets annually.
A two-year trial conducted by Cornish fishers and Fishtek Marine, with cameras fitted to boats to monitor seabird behavior, revealed that the LEB, which features a spinning head with large eyes, cut the chance of seabirds being caught by 59%. Commercially available scarybird kites were even more effective, achieving a 71% reduction in bycatch.
The research, analyzed by scientists from the University of Exeter and published in the journal Conservation Letters, also identified that most seabird bycatch in Cornwall occurs during the winter months. This finding will help target the deployment of these mitigation measures more effectively.
Tom Horton, lead author of the study, stated that the findings provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of simple, practical deterrents in reducing seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries. He added that identifying peak bycatch periods offers an opportunity to maximize conservation benefits for vulnerable seabird populations and promote sustainable fishing practices. Yann Rouxel, bycatch programme manager at the RSPB, expressed satisfaction with the real-world implementation of solutions developed over a decade of research, noting the performance of the LEB and kite as a major milestone in reducing bycatch without impeding fishing operations.