Buoys with looming eyes deter seaducks and could potentially reduce seabird bycatch in gillnets

Authors
Rouxel, Y., Crawford, R., Cleasby, I.R., Kibel, P., Owen, E., Volke, V., Schnell, A.K. and Oppel, S.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
Royal Society Open Science
Volume (Issue #)
8
Page #s
12
Contact information
Yann Rouxel, Birdlife International Marine Programme, c/o The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, UK- yann.rouxel@rspb.org.uk
Summary

The authors developed a novel mitigation method for reducing seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries in the Baltic Sea: looming-eyes buoys (LEB), an above-water visual deterrent. This method was trialed off of Sareemaa Island, Estonia, and was shown to reduce potential for long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) bycatch by 20-30% within a 50m radius with a possible habituation effect within 62 days. These trials suggest that above-water visual deterrents such as LEBs could contribute to reduce seabird bycatch in combination with other management and mitigation measures. 

 

Link
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/epdf/10.1098/rsos.210225

Field Studies

Buoys with looming eyes deter seaducks and could potentially reduce seabird bycatch in gillnets

Study Type
Field study in the wild
Location
Küdema Bay, island of Saaremaa, Estonia
Target catch
n/a
Effect on bycatch species
reduced long-tailed duck bycatch by 20–30% within a 50 m radius
Effect on target catch
not measured, but assumed to be minimal as this is an above-water technique that does not alter fishing methods
Bycatch species
Seabirds
Reduction technique
Visual deterrents
Fishing Gear
Gillnets