Floating scarecrows: how Cornish fishers are stopping seabirds drowning in their nets
Off the coast of Cornwall, a creative collaboration between fishers, scientists, and conservationists is showing promising results in protecting endangered seabirds from accidental drowning. Each year, an estimated 95,000 diving birds—including razorbills and guillemots—become fatally entangled in fishing nets across European waters. Now, simple devices that mimic predatory threats are proving remarkably effective at steering these birds away from danger. The two-year trial tested a "looming-eyes buoy"—a floating scarecrow with a spinning head and large, intimidating eyes—alongside a commercially available bird-shaped kite. Ten Cornish fishers equipped their boats with cameras to document how seabirds responded to these deterrents near gillnets, the vertical walls of netting that hang beneath the water's surface. The results, published in Conservation Letters by University of Exeter researchers, revealed that the kites reduced seabird deaths by 71%, while the buoys achieved a 59% reduction. The study also identified winter as the season of highest risk in Cornish waters, offering valuable guidance for when these protections matter most. This research represents more than a decade of effort to find solutions that protect wildlife without burdening fishers. The devices are practical, affordable, and don't interfere with fishing operations—a rare win-win in conservation. For seabird populations already under pressure, these unassuming tools could make a meaningful difference, transforming an accidental tragedy into an opportunity for coexistence between human livelihood and the natural world.