Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear using spikes on oyster cages

Overall effectiveness category Likely to be beneficial
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

60%
Certainty

43%
Harms

0%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Oyster bags are mesh bags, attached to floats and anchored on the seabed into which young ‘seed’ oysters are placed. They then grow and are harvested when large enough. Oyster cages are similar, but are made of rigid wire mesh.

Study locations

Key messages

A replicated and controlled study from Canada found that significantly fewer birds landed on oyster cages with spikes attached, compared to control cages.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

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).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
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.

Please cite as:

Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Bird Conservation. Pages 137-281 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bird Conservation

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Use electric fencing to exclude fish-eating birds Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	2	Synopsis Link
Disturb birds using foot patrols Action Link	Unlikely to be beneficial	2	Synopsis Link
Deter birds from landing on shellfish culture gear using spikes on oyster cages Action Link	Likely to be beneficial	1	Synopsis Link