Saving Seabirds from Fishing Nets

Every year, thousands of seabirds drown after becoming entangled in fishing nets. Many are diving for food when they encounter underwater gear they cannot see. Along the coast of Cornwall, in southwest England, scientists and local fishermen are testing an unexpectedly simple solution: frightening birds away before they enter the water.

A study published in Conservation Letters suggests that specially designed buoys and bird-shaped kites could significantly reduce accidental seabird captures. The findings offer new possibilities for protecting marine wildlife without requiring fishermen to abandon traditional fishing methods.

An Invisible Threat Beneath the Surface

Fishing nets are essential equipment for many coastal communities. Yet they also represent a serious danger to marine wildlife. Gillnets, which form vertical barriers underwater, can trap animals that are not targeted by fishermen. This accidental capture, known as bycatch, affects seabirds, dolphins, seals and other marine species.

Diving birds are particularly vulnerable. Guillemots and razorbills regularly plunge beneath the surface in search of fish. Once entangled in the mesh, they may be unable to return to the surface to breathe. A 2024 scientific review estimated that more than 95,000 seabirds die annually in gillnets across the Baltic Sea and Northeast Atlantic. Reducing these deaths has become an important conservation challenge.

Scaring Birds Away Before They Dive

Researchers from the University of Exeter, Fishtek Marine and conservation partners worked alongside ten fishermen in Cornwall. Between October 2023 and March 2025, they monitored 1,057 fishing-net deployments. Two deterrent systems were tested against ordinary nets. The first used a kite resembling a bird of prey, suspended above the water. Its movement was designed to discourage seabirds from approaching the fishing area.

The second involved floating buoys fitted with large, rotating eyes. Known as Looming Eye Buoys, these devices create the impression of an approaching threat. The results were encouraging. Nets equipped with bird-shaped kites showed 71% lower odds of accidentally catching guillemots and razorbills. Nets fitted with eye-shaped buoys showed 59% lower odds compared with nets without deterrents. The devices also reduced the number of affected birds relative to fishing effort when bycatch occurred.

Promising Results, but Important Limitations

The research involved approximately 129 kilometres of fishing nets. Across all deployments, 191 non-target animals were recorded, including 153 birds, 25 seals and 13 cetaceans. Most accidentally caught seabirds were already dead when recovered.

Although both deterrents demonstrated benefits, their performance varied. Kites worked particularly well close to the device but depended on suitable wind conditions. The rotating-eye buoys were easier to handle and remained effective over a broader area. However, researchers observed a possible increase in seal captures around these devices.

Earlier research in Iceland had also failed to demonstrate benefits from similar buoys. A separate Danish study found that some birds eventually became accustomed to the rotating eyes. These findings suggest that no single device will work everywhere. Further testing is needed before widespread adoption.

Fishermen at the Centre of Conservation

One important aspect of the Cornwall project was the involvement of local fishermen. Rather than simply observing commercial fishing activities, scientists worked with crews to test equipment under everyday conditions. Fishermen provided practical feedback on installation, handling and durability.

The research also revealed that accidental bird captures were particularly frequent during January and February, especially in nets targeting sea bass and mackerel. This seasonal pattern could help conservation teams focus protection measures during the most dangerous periods. Such an approach might reduce unnecessary costs and disruptions for fishing communities while improving seabird survival.

Did You Know?
Guillemots and razorbills belong to the auk family, a group of seabirds adapted to hunting underwater. Their wings allow them to propel themselves through the sea, but this remarkable diving ability also exposes them to submerged fishing nets.

A Small Change with Wider Potential

The Cornwall findings demonstrate how relatively simple fishing innovations can contribute to marine conservation. However, the devices do not eliminate bycatch, and their effectiveness still needs testing across different fisheries and environmental conditions. The study also did not establish whether they affect catches of commercially targeted fish.

For coastal communities, practical conservation measures must balance wildlife protection with economic realities. The collaboration between researchers and fishermen offers a promising example of how these priorities can work together. Protecting seabirds may not always require sophisticated technology. Sometimes, changing what birds see above the surface could make a difference beneath it.

FAQ

Sources

Horton et al. (2026) — Above Water Deterrents Reduce Auk Bycatch in Gillnet Fisheries off the United Kingdom. Conservation Letters. Original scientific study
Ramírez et al. (2024) — Seabird Bycatch in European Waters. Animal Conservation. Scientific review
Rouxel et al. (2023) — Research on the limitations of looming-eye buoys in Iceland. Original study
Mongabay (23 October 2026) — Reporting by Liz Kimbrough, with comments from scientists and fishermen. Read the investigation

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