Floating Scarecrows: How Cornish Fishers Save Seabirds from Nets 2026

Floating scarecrows are emerging as an unlikely hero in the fight to save endangered seabirds from drowning in fishing nets. Off the coast of Cornwall, fishers are testing simple deterrents that could slash the number of diving birds accidentally caught in gillnets by up to two-thirds.

How Floating Scarecrows Work to Save Seabirds

The device, officially called a looming-eyes buoy (LEB), is essentially a floating scarecrow. It features a spinning head with two large eyes that startle diving birds like razorbills and guillemots, keeping them away from the invisible walls of netting that hang beneath the surface. These gillnets are notorious for entangling seabirds as they dive for fish.

Alongside the LEB, researchers tested a commercially available scarybird kite. Both devices were fitted with cameras on ten Cornish fishing boats to monitor seabird behaviour over a two-year trial. The results, published in the journal Conservation Letters, were striking: the chance of seabirds being caught in gillnets fell by 59% with LEBs and by 71% with kites.

Testing the Effectiveness of Bird Deterrents

The study, led by scientists from the University of Exeter and the RSPB, provides some of the strongest evidence yet that simple, practical solutions can make a big difference. Every year, an estimated 95,000 diving birds are accidentally caught in nets off European coasts. Reducing that toll is critical for species already under pressure from climate change and overfishing.

Tom Horton, lead author of the University of Exeter research, said: “This study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that simple, practical deterrents can substantially reduce seabird bycatch.” The trial also revealed that in Cornwall, most seabirds are caught during winter, which will help fishers target the use of these devices by season.

Key Takeaways for Sustainable Fishing

• Floating scarecrows and bird kites reduce seabird bycatch by 59–71%.
• Deterrents are most effective when deployed during winter months.
• Simple, low-cost solutions can protect endangered species without harming fishing operations.
• Collaboration between fishers, scientists, and conservation groups drives real change.

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