Use of underwater playback to reduce the impact of eiders on mussel farms
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Published source details
Ross B.P., Lien J. & Furness R.W. (2001) Use of underwater playback to reduce the impact of eiders on mussel farms. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 58, 517-524.
Published source details Ross B.P., Lien J. & Furness R.W. (2001) Use of underwater playback to reduce the impact of eiders on mussel farms. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 58, 517-524.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Scare birds from fish farms Action Link |
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Scare birds from fish farms
A controlled, replicated before-and-after experiment in January-April and October 1998, and March 1999, in Argyll, Scotland (Ross et al. 2001), found that an underwater playback system (UPS) was effective in deterring common eider Somateria mollissima from feeding on mussels Mytilus edulis at farms on two sea lochs (47-80% fewer birds feeding after use of the UPS; 2-37 birds feeding before use). Underwater recordings of an approaching ‘scare boat’ (scaring by boat being a conventional deterrent method) were played via an underwater loudspeaker, and also a ‘control’ i.e. playback of an unassociated sound. Average return time of eiders after chasing by boat also increased significantly, suggesting that effectiveness was strengthened by UPS.
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