Key Takeaways
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Bird-of-prey kites and spinning googly-eyed buoys cut accidental auk bycatch by up to 71% and 59%, respectively.
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The real-world trial involved 10 fishers testing deterrents across more than 1,000 camera-monitored nets off the coast of Cornwall.
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Because bycatch peaked sharply in midwinter, conservationists suggest targeted seasonal use could effectively protect wildlife without disrupting year-round fishing.
Innovative scare tactics safeguard diving seabirds along the coast
A collaborative initiative between researchers and commercial fishers off the coast of Cornwall has yielded remarkably positive results for marine wildlife. A 17-month study published in Conservation Letters revealed that equipping fishing nets with simple deterrents—specifically bird-of-prey kites and spinning “looming-eye” buoys—dramatically lowers the likelihood of accidental seabird entanglements.
During the trials, nets fitted with predator-shaped kites achieved a 71 percent reduction in the odds of catching auks, a family of diving birds that includes guillemots and razorbills. Meanwhile, spinning buoys painted with animated googly eyes cut the odds by 59 percent. Across commercial fisheries in Europe, tens of thousands of diving birds drown annually in gillnets, making these findings a major breakthrough in marine conservation.
Ten local fishers actively participated in the study, deploying more than 1,000 paired nets equipped with cameras and GPS tracking. Rather than just offering vessel access, the fishers provided crucial feedback on equipment usability and helped craft improved prototypes. Researchers also found that bycatch peaked significantly during January and February, suggesting that focused, short-term winter deployments could offer powerful wildlife protection without the need for cumbersome year-round restrictions.
