If you look out to sea and spot a giant set of eyes staring back at you, don't be alarmed.
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you → look → you
Scientists have deployed a 'floating scarecrow' off the coast of Cornwall.
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Scientists → deploy → Cornwall
The floating scarecrow, also known as the Looming Eye Buoy (LEB), is designed to save seabirds from getting caught in fishing nets.
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scarecrow → float → nets
'The Looming Eye Buoy is essentially a rotating head with an eye, which gives the impression of an animated, or looming eye, which deters the birds from going near the fishing nets,' said Tom Hooper, senior fisheries scientist at Fishtek Marine.
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Hooper → rotate → Marine
While this sounds rather comical, a study has revealed that the technique is actually very effective.
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technique → sound → ?
Afer being deployed, the chances of guillemots and razorbills being caught in nets dropped by 59 per cent.
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chances → deploy → cent
If you look out to sea and spot a giant set of eyes staring back at you, don't be alarmed.
asserted
you → look → you
Scientists have deployed a 'floating scarecrow' off the coast of Cornwall
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Scientists → deploy → Cornwall
During a two–year trial, 10 Cornish fishermen had cameras fitted to their boats to monitor the effects of these methods on seabird bycatch levels
Each year, around 95,000 seabirds are incidentally caught and drown in nets around the coast of Europe.
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seabirds → have → Europe
Known as 'bycatch', this is an issue that affects several species, including guillemots and razorbills.
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that → know → guillemots
In their new study, researchers from the University of Exeter tested two methods to deter birds from these nets – LEBs, and 'scarybird' kites.
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researchers → test → nets
As the name suggests, scarybird kites are kites shaped like predators.
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kites → suggest → predators
During a two–year trial, 10 Cornish fishermen had cameras fitted to their boats to monitor the effects of these methods on seabird bycatch levels.
And the results revealed that both of these methods were highly effective.
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both → have → methods
The chances of birds being caught were reduced by 59 per cent using LEBs and by 71 per cent using kites.
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birds → catch → kites
'This study provides some of the strongest evidence to date that simple, practical deterrents can substantially reduce seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries,' said Tom Horton, lead author from the University of Exeter.
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Horton → provide → Exeter
'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.
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they → identify → practices
Earlier this year, scientists from the University of Exeter suggested sticking eyes on takeaways to keep pesky birds at bay
Mr Hooper added: '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.'
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it → suggest → needs
This isn't the first time scientists have turned to googly eyes to deter seabirds.
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scientists → turn → seabirds
Earlier this year, scientists from the University of Exeter suggested sticking eyes on takeaways to keep pesky birds at bay.
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scientists → suggest → bay
In their study, the team stuck googly eyes on takeaway food boxes to test whether it would affect their appeal to hungry gulls.
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it → stick → gulls
Amazingly, they found that the gulls were put off by the eyes, and were slower to approach and less likely to peck at the boxes.
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gulls → find → boxes
'Many animals – both wild and domesticated – are very aware of eyes, which can indicate the presence of a predator or be used to communicate intent,' explained lead author, Dr Laura Kelley, in an article for The Conversation.
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author → indicate → Conversation
'Direct eye contact often conveys aggression, while looking away indicates a lack of threat.
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looking → convey → threat
'Animals generally respond defensively when they see eyes staring at them.'
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eyes → respond → them
The Aporia
