Scientists develop ‘floating scarecrow’ to protect threatened seabirds - University of Exeter

New research has shown that a “floating scarecrow” developed by UK-based scientists and a repurposed bird-scaring kite can help save threatened seabirds from getting caught in fishing nets.

Every year an estimated 95,000 diving seabirds such as guillemots and razorbills are incidentally caught and drown in gillnets around the coast of Europe. The issue, known as “bycatch”, is a global problem that affects a range of seabird species.

Now research with Cornish fishermen has shown how the simple deterrents, when deployed strategically, can reduce bycatch by around two thirds.

The scientists from Devon-based Fishtek Marine, a global leader in marine conservation, jointly developed with the RSPB a floating scarecrow known as a Looming Eye Buoy (LEB).

It was trialled it off the coast of Cornwall, alongside an alternative deterrent technique using a commercially available kite in the shape of a bird of prey, known as the “scarybird” kite.

The LEB buoy has a spinning head that uses an animated eye effect to scare birds away from diving into the nets.