Deterring coastal birds from roosting on oyster culture gear in eastern New Brunswick, Canada

Published source details Comeau L.A., St Onge P., Pernet F. & Lanteigne L. (2009) Deterring coastal birds from roosting on oyster culture gear in eastern New Brunswick, Canada. Aquacultural Engineering, 40, 87-94.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear by suspending oyster bags under water Action Link
	Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear using spikes on oyster cages Action Link

Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear by suspending oyster bags under water

A replicated and controlled experiment in summer and autumn 2006 and 2007 in oyster Crassostrea virginica farms off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada (Comeau et al. 2009), found that suspending oyster bags 6 cm under the water significantly reduced the number of birds roosting on them (1 bird/100 bags on submerged bags vs. 37 on controls). However, suspending bags 3 cm below the water did not significantly reduce the number of birds roosting (15 birds roosting/100 bags).
Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear using spikes on oyster cages

A replicated and controlled experiment in summer and autumn 2006 and 2007 in oyster Crassostrea virginica farms off the coast of New Brunswick, Canada (Comeau et al. 2009), found that ‘AntiCormo’ devices (spikes attached to oyster cage floats) significantly reduced the number of birds roosting on oyster cages (0-1.3 birds/100 cages at one site with AnitCormo cages; 0-42 birds at a second vs. 100-499 birds/100 cages at a control farm). Five species were seen on oyster cages (double-crested cormorants Phalacrocorax auritus, herring gull Larus argentatus, great black-backed gull L. marinus, common tern Sterna hirundo and great blue heron Ardea herodias).