An innovative attempt to deter seabirds from Danish fishing nets, using a buoy named 'Bobby' with large, googly eyes to mimic a predator, has proven unsuccessful. Researchers found that after a short period, seabirds habituated to the buoy and showed no fear, perching near it and continuing to access the nets.
The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, highlights the complexity of deterring wildlife, as birds quickly learn that stationary or predictably moving objects pose no real threat. This underscores the importance of publishing negative results to guide future, more effective, and adaptable deterrent strategies for protecting both fisheries and protected seabird populations.
