The invention, named Safetynet, was invented by Dan Watson, a former student at Glasgow School of Art and helps guide juvenile fish inadvertently caught in the nets to safety.

The Safetynet features a series of brightly lit escape rings that are fitted to conventional trawler nets to prevent meshes closing completely - allowing the smaller fish to escape.

Moreover, the rings themselves are lit up by converting tidal power into kenetic energy. Providing, in effect, an emergency exit sign.

Dan has been awarded £1,000 in prize money by the James Dyson Award judges, which he plans to reinvest into development of the Safetynet product.

The overall winner of the award - which has been set up to honour technology, design and engineering among students - will net £10,000 of total prize money.

For more information on Safetynet and the James Dyson Award visit www.jamesdysonaward.org