Scientists develop ‘floating scarecrow’ to protect threatened seabirds

A pole mounted on a buoy at sea, with a spinning metal top displaying a pair of large eyes on each side

New research has shown that a “floating scarecrow” developed by UK-based scientists and a repurposed bird-scaring kite can help save threatened seabirds from getting caught in fishing nets.

Every year an estimated 95,000 diving seabirds such as guillemots and razorbills are incidentally caught and drown in gillnets around the coast of Europe [1]. The issue, known as “bycatch”, is a global problem that affects a range of seabird species.

Now research with Cornish fishermen has shown how the simple deterrents, when deployed strategically, can reduce bycatch by around two thirds.

The scientists from Devon-based Fishtek Marine, a global leader in marine conservation, jointly developed with the RSPB a floating scarecrow known as a Looming Eye Buoy (LEB).

It was trialled it off the coast of Cornwall, alongside an alternative deterrent technique using a commercially available kite in the shape of a bird of prey, known as the “scarybird” kite.

The LEB buoy has a spinning head that uses an animated eye effect to scare birds away from diving into the nets.

Data from the trials was analysed by scientists from the University of Exeter.

The results of their study, published in the journal Conservation Letters, demonstrate that both devices decreased the risk of guillemots and razorbills being caught in nets by around two thirds. The chances of birds being caught were reduced by 59% using LEBs and by 71% using kites.

The data was collected as part of a two-year trial led by Fishtek Marine, with 10 Cornish fishermen, who had cameras fitted to their boats to collect data on the mitigation effect of the devices on seabird bycatch levels.

The partnership with fishermen has been critical in helping to improve designs and gaining valuable insights into how the devices can be used most effectively.

The research highlights that in Cornwall most seabirds were caught during the winter months. This will help ensure that future deployments of these seabird bycatch reduction devices can be targeted to specific seasons.

Tom Horton, lead author from the University of Exeter, said: “This study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that simple, practical deterrents can substantially reduce seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries. By also identifying when and where bycatch risk is highest, we now have a clear opportunity to target mitigation measures where they can deliver the greatest conservation benefit for vulnerable seabird populations and encourage sustainable fishing practices.”

Tom Hooper, senior fisheries scientist at Fishtek Marine, said: “These trials have been very encouraging and show that floating deterrents can make a real difference in protecting seabirds from getting caught in fishing gear. One of the most significant results of this study was showing how seabird bycatch was concentrated in key locations at specific times of the year. This means that deterrent efforts can be directed and efficient.

“This technology means that fishing can continue while reducing the effects on seabirds However, any technology used at sea must be simple and robust, so working with fishermen means that we learned a great deal about how the devices were used and as a result we can refine and improve so that it fits their operational needs.”

The buoy is the result of an eight-year collaboration between scientists at Fishtek Marine and nature conservation charity the RSPB. The latest study was funded by the Defra Fishing Industry Science Partnership (FISP) programme and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners.

The RSPB has a track record of developing technology and implementing it to stop seabirds dying in fishing operations. As host of the BirdLife International Marine Programme, the charity has been instrumental in the deployment of “bird-scaring lines” around the world. This has reduced seabird bycatch by 98% in Namibian longliners, and 95% in South African trawlers. These global learnings are now being used to help save UK seabirds.

Yann Rouxel, Bycatch Programme Manager at the RSPB, said: “After over a decade of research into gillnet bycatch and its solutions, it’s great to see this work moving towards real-world implementation. We’ve already developed technology which can reduce the number of seabirds killed in trawl and longline fisheries by over 90%, but gillnets have proved a real challenge to develop mitigation methods for and pose a significant threat to seabirds in the UK. The performance of the LEB and kite, as evidenced in this study, is a major milestone in the effort to reduce seabird bycatch without impeding gillnet fishers while at sea.”

Pete Kibel, co-founder and director of Fishtek Marine, added: “We will continue to work with our colleagues in the fishing industry, the RSPB and the team at the University of Exeter to further improve the efficiency of these devices.”

Micky Bacon, a fisherman from Mousehole, Cornwall, who took part in the trials, said: “I got involved with the seabird bycatch trial because the sea is my workplace and I think it’s important that we’re involved in projects that can potentially affect how we work and can help improve the environment. It is also a good opportunity to publicise to people outside the industry that fishermen don’t just want to go and catch fish, we also want to be part and parcel of improving the environment.”

Full story courtesy of the University of Exeter

Stephen Nowell - RiP

Newlyn will say goodbye to boat owner and skipper, Stephen Nowell tomorrow.

Brothers in arms.

The Nowell name is synonymous with successful beam trawler skippers in Newlyn since the 1970s. Brothers Frank (Stephen's father) and Roger Nowell (Snr) were among Newlyn's top skippers who helped grow the Stevenson beam trawler fleet in the 70s and 80s. Stephen followed in his father's and uncle's footsteps skippering the James RH Stevenson for some years before he and brother Michael built their own fishing reputations with a fleet of smaller beam trawlers that could work inside the 12 mile when profitable. 

Uncle Roger has arrived down the quay to check out Stephen (behind) landing the brother's new boat, the Nellie.

Their first joint venture was when they purchased the beam trawler Semper Allegro, a trip aboard her was captured on film in this photo story while Steven and Michael's uncle Roger Nowell took charge of the Semper while the two brothers went to view their next boat. The fleet included at one time or another the Elizabeth N, Karen N named after Stephen's wife and then the Louisa N, named after Michael's wife. In recent years, Stephen and Michael's business venture included taking on the Penzance Dock based Penwith Marine Services.

A celebration of life will be taking place at St Peter's Church Newlyn on Tuesday 13th October at 10.30am. Colourful and informal dress code encouraged. This will be followed by a private cremation. Everybody is welcome at the Pirates Rugby club after.

Cornish art collection featuring fishing lives returns home for exhibition.

Image source,The Bowerman Collection

Image caption,

Stanhope Forbes' work Lighting Up Time is included in the exhibtion

By

Paintings depicting life in Cornwall's fishing and rural communities more than a century ago have gone on display.

The exhibition brings together 40 works from the acclaimed Bowerman Collection of Newlyn School art, a movement of artists who settled in west Cornwall in the late 19th Century.

The works have returned to Cornwall before embarking on a national tour and will be displayed at the Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance until January.

Curator Alison Bevan said the work "captures the real lives and characters of this remote fishing community".

Bevan said the exhibition also highlighted artists who formed what she described as a second flowering of the colony at the turn of the 20th Century.

"With their more vibrant palette but equal passion for painting from life, this second generation re-energised Newlyn as a vibrant artistic hub, revelling in West Cornwall's sparkling light," she said.

Paintings depicting life in Cornwall's fishing and rural communities more than a century ago have gone on display. The exhibition brings together 40 works from the acclaimed Bowerman Collection of Newlyn School art, a movement of artists who settled in west Cornwall in the late 19th Century.

The works have returned to Cornwall before embarking on a national tour and will be displayed at the Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance until January. Curator Alison Bevan said the work "captures the real lives and characters of this remote fishing community". Bevan said the exhibition also highlighted artists who formed what she described as a second flowering of the colony at the turn of the 20th Century.

"With their more vibrant palette but equal passion for painting from life, this second generation re-energised Newlyn as a vibrant artistic hub, revelling in West Cornwall's sparkling light," she said.

The exhibition runs until 9 January before the collection begins a two-year tour of venues across England.

Image source,The Bowerman Collection

Image caption,

Stanhope Forbes' painting The Weigh-In Bridge depicting Penzance harbour

Image source,The Bowerman Collection

Image caption,

Albert Tayler Chevallier's painting: The Bolt of Cloth

Image source,The Bowerman Collection

Image caption,

Walter Langley's painting Breadwinners

Image source,The Bowerman Collection

Image caption,

Walter Langley's painting Motherless

The Betrayal of British Fishing, - podcast.

 

In episode 124 of the Seafood Matters Podcast, titled The Betrayal of British Fishing, the conversation dives straight into the turbulent waters of the UK's current fishing landscape. Featuring interviews with Mike Park OBE, CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, and Mike Cohen, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, the episode unpacks the harsh realities facing coastal communities today.

The guests share their candid thoughts on the recent Brexit reset negotiations and what the latest 12-year EU access deal actually means for the future of British fleets. They also tackle the controversies sparked by David Attenborough's new documentary, Ocean, and its high-profile push for a blanket ban on bottom trawling.

It is a grounded, no-nonsense look at the clash between celebrity-led environmental campaigns, political manoeuvring, and the everyday challenges of the people working to produce sustainable food at sea.

FISHING INDUSTRY SATISFACTION SURVEY – MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY

One anecdote immediately comes to mind. A local fisherman recollects a quayside conversation with a surveyor checking his 16ft punt. Looking at the boat, the surveyor asked the 60 year old fisherman, "With the tiller in that position, in which direction would the boat travel?"

What's a fisherman to do?

For anyone working in the commercial fishing sector out of Newlyn and the wider West Cornwall ports, dealing with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is simply a regular part of the job. However, there is no denying that the relationship between the catching sector and the agency often generates plenty of discussion on the quayside, particularly regarding the practicalities of vessel surveys, safety inspections, and the rollout of medical certificates.

To get a proper measure of how the fleet feels about the current state of affairs, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has launched a Fishing Industry Satisfaction Survey focused strictly on the MCA. It is an opportunity for skippers, vessel owners, and crews to provide direct, honest feedback on the agency's performance, communication, and overall approach to regulation.

Whether recent interactions with the MCA have been straightforward and sensible, or bogged down by red tape and unworkable demands, the NFFO needs to hear from the people actually working on the deck. The data gathered will give industry representatives the hard evidence required to push for fit-for-purpose rules that keep crews safe without tying fishing businesses up in unnecessary bureaucracy.

The questionnaire takes just a few minutes to complete and gives the local fleet a chance to make those everyday quayside frustrations count on a national level. To all fishermen, please take the time to complete the survey.

Take the NFFO MCA Satisfaction Survey here

It's a fine #FishyFriday in Newlyn!

The Bay has seen a few boats of very different sorts at anchor...

over the last few days, with the Mounts Bay Lugger Association's Happy Return now down off the slip in Newlyn being passed by the square rigger, Blue Clipper which had stopped off in Penzance after a voyage which saw her leave Norwegian waters and make a tour of Scottish ports, she is now heading south through the Bay of Biscay ...

the guard ship Resplendent is once again against the quay...

on the market the Ajax put ashore a big trip of fish which included these scad...

bream...

and a big shot of hake...

Annie May managed a few monk tails...

and the inevitable boxes of dogs were there again..

the St Georges landed some cracking plaice... 

Dovers...

and megrim sole...

while the inshore boats enjoyed a few late season John Dory...

Cod picked up a good few bass...

and the sardine boats found fish after the mid-week blow...

recent weeks have seen more tuna including skipjack...

and bluefin...

and cuttles are making the landing sheets for those boats working away east...

if the lights are anything to go by there's plenty of fish in the harbour...

talking of lights, it''s good to see all the ligjts on the Old Quay are now fully operational including the restored lamp at the end of the quay...

Rowse's latest crabber is now working...

as is this little guy busy chasing fish in the harbour.

 

"It’s time min­is­ters saw our abil­ity to feed ourselves from the sea as a stra­tegic asset"

 

Fishing and Seafood should be treated as Critical National Infrastructure, says Fisheries APPG

Launching its Action Plan for a Thriving and Sustainable UK Fishing Industry at the historic Fishmongers’ Hall on the evening of 9 September, the APPG on Fisheries called on Government to treat fishing and seafood as part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

The cross-party Group urged ministers to set out a coherent, long-term strategy for the sector in the next twelve months, recognising its strategic value as a food-producing industry vital to national food security.

The Group argues that a resilient seafood system – spanning domestic catching, processing and trade – is vital to the UK’s food security, and that a healthy domestic fishing industry is a strategic asset within that system. In 2024, UK vessels landed 745,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish, while the UK imported more than 1.1 million tonnes of seafood. While much of the domestic catch is exported and many imports reflect UK consumer preferences, this gap points to a reliance on global supply chains that recent geopolitical events have shown can no longer be taken for granted. The Government itself has acknowledged that, while the UK is currently food secure, the conditions underpinning that security are shifting. Preserving the capacity to feed the nation from its own waters, says the APPG, offers strategic insurance against future shocks.

Daniel Zeich­ner Labour MP for Cam­bridge, former Defra min­is­ter and chair of the APPG on Fish­er­ies’ Action Plan

In 2024, UK fish­ing ves­sels landed around 745,000 tonnes of fish and shell­fish. At the same time, we impor­ted more than 1.1 mil­lion tonnes of sea­food. Fish­ing is part of our national story. But for an island nation, we too often fail to see the value of our own seas. I saw this as Defra min­is­ter, with fish­er­ies as part of my brief – one com­plex policy area among sev­eral oth­ers, includ­ing farm­ing, food secur­ity and rural affairs, com­pet­ing for atten­tion.

I say this not to cri­ti­cise col­leagues but because I know the real­ity of finite time and resources. In that role, and before it as shadow min­is­ter, I met with people who fish around our coasts – who put food on tables here and around the world, who sus­tain coastal and island com­munit­ies from Corn­wall and Grimsby to Kil­keel and Shet­land, and who under­pin a sea­food eco­nomy that is part of a rather remark­able food sys­tem. I also saw how eas­ily the machinery of gov­ern­ment – even with very good people work­ing on this brief – over­looks fish­ing’s pro­duct­ive con­tri­bu­tions, mostly without mean­ing to. Per­haps if we viewed the sec­tor as a stra­tegic asset, this would be dif­fer­ent.

That weak­ness is what the APPG on Fish­er­ies’ new Action Plan for a Thriv­ing and Sus­tain­able UK Fish­ing Industry sets out to cor­rect. Draw­ing on evid­ence from fish­er­men and women around the UK’s coasts, this cross-party plan calls on gov­ern­ment to pub­lish a coher­ent, long-term strategy for UK fish­ing and the wider sea­food sec­tor, as part of the com­mit­ment it has made to deliver a Sus­tain­able Ocean Plan next year. This should be developed in part­ner­ship with the devolved admin­is­tra­tions and industry stake­hold­ers, and recog­nise the sec­tor’s stra­tegic import­ance to the resi­li­ence of our food sys­tem.

We export much of what we catch and import much of what we eat – this is part of the real­ity of a glob­ally integ­rated sea­food eco­nomy. We should be hon­est about that. But our land­ings also point to a sig­ni­fic­ant source of food if those sup­ply chains are dis­rup­ted – as we have seen, by pan­demic and geo­pol­it­ical shocks, and as they increas­ingly will be by the strain cli­mate change and biod­iversity loss are pla­cing on food sys­tems world­wide. Gov­ern­ment itself acknow­ledges that while the UK is food secure for now, the con­di­tions under­pin­ning that secur­ity are shift­ing. Within this con­text, the abil­ity to feed the nation from the seas around us is a stra­tegic asset.

Of course, this asset depends on our domestic catch­ing capa­city. On act­ive fish­ing boats around our coasts, on skip­pers and crews to go to sea, and on pro­duct­ive and sus­tain­ably man­aged waters to be there when they are needed. This makes a diverse, sus­tain­able, work­ing UK fish­ing fleet a mat­ter of national food secur­ity.

Dur­ing our inquiry, those across the sec­tor were very frank about the pres­sures facing fish­ing. Rising costs, shift­ing stocks, man­age­ment issues, com­pet­i­tion for space at sea, a work­force crisis… all layered over years to cre­ate a “per­fect storm” and real pres­sure on the people work­ing in it. In the face of these issues, the call for sup­port we heard was remark­ably mod­est – to be recog­nised for their con­tri­bu­tion and sup­por­ted by gov­ern­ment in line with other food-pro­du­cing and eco­nomic sec­tors.

This is the gap the action plan fills. It offers a prac­tical frame­work of 38 recom­mend­a­tions built with the sec­tor, across parties and nations, designed as a pack­age and ready for gov­ern­ment to act on. We have evid­ence and broad con­sensus, but are still fail­ing to recog­nise prop­erly the sig­ni­fic­ance of the sec­tor to our food sys­tem’s resi­li­ence. This is the chance to change that.

For an island nation, we have looked past our own seas for too long. We would not accept this about the land that feeds us. And we should not accept it about the waters that do either.

“I saw how eas­ily the machinery of gov­ern­ment... over­looks fish­ing’s pro­duct­ive con­tri­bu­tions”