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This is a dedicated thread for discussing article: The Predation Action Group and a Quiet Finish: Tony’s Specialist Scene
The anti-otter groups have made much of the "illegal release of captive bred otters" and the PAG appealed for information on their website over a year ago on this. I wrote to PAG a couple of months ago asking what evidence they had received - they didn't reply. I wrote again - still nothing, then I wrote directly to someone who I know is a member. he couldn't answer my question but referred me to someone who could. "No hard evidence but strong circumstantial" came the eventual reply - I guess that means none then.
Hysteria is being whipped up on the forums about otters but it's a facade - there's nothing behind it!
Expecting the PAG board to detail their current research and findings to individuals, especially when the motive for such a request is unclear, isn't really something that we can realistically treat as a priority at the present time.
The PAG website, it's latest leaflet destribution, recent press releases and the related information outlined in my recent article and have repeated in the associated comment, all clearly state that the PAG has been formed out of concern for fish, fisheries and fishing and it's aim is to research and investigate the increasing predation issue and to publish the results at the appropriate time. Fact!
Some people may not agree with these aims, and that is personnal choice/opinion. I don't have a problem with that.
Some of the associated vitriolic and personal criticism I think is rather unnessary and sounds a little desperate to me. In the past I've found that similar tactics are employed by people that are loosing an argument.
While I agree with the aims of the PAG and I believe that the PAG has the best interests of angling's future at heart I am proud to be associated with the organisation.
Support for the PAG continues to grow. The support from the general angling puplic at the Carpin' On show this year was massive. At last year's show only one person out of hundreds that I spoke to disagreed with the way that the PAG were tackling the predation issue. This year ever single person I spoke to was in agreement!
Well, for what it is worth, I for one would support the work being done by the PAG and am happy to wait to see the results of their work.
It is simple knowledge that we have an excess of predation, especially on our river down here in the South, Cormorants are bad enough but Otters are an apex predator who also kill for apparent fun; killing far more fish than they could possibly eat.
If we hope to have anything left in our rivers for our grandchildren to catch then research and appropriate actions needs to take place - and the sooner the better!
No, it is an animal that was previously virtually, if not actually, extinct as it couldn't handle the rigors of modern farming techniques.
It is only reintroduced because of 'man' playing at being God!
Not only were these people playing at being God but with absolutely no consultation with the wider angling community whatsoever.
That, in itself I think of as being an an act of environmental criminality - don't you?
The Bear and the Wolf were once natural inhabitants of these islands too, maybe we should consider reintroducing those back into our environment?
No, didn't think so!
This is a wild animal that naturally spaces itself out in an eco-system that fluctuates for a myriad number of reasons , any money would be far better spent on unbiased research.
On a trip to Wales at the tail end of the season I witnessed 7 otters in a very short stretch of a small Wye tributary. Is that the "naturally spaces itself out in an eco-system" that you speak of?
Which is another example of democracy failing us. The opinions of 10,000 badly informed people shouldn't be compared with the opinions of a dozen very well informed people.thing is anyone other than an angler would say that just shows otters are a conservation success and for them to be there in numbers shows there is an abundance of food and the catchment as never been healthier...very good PR for the EA/NE
in all honesty i beleive that it is a carp led anti otter group and until they prove otherwise i reckon they do more harm than good by misinforming the average angler...thing is more important issues should be discussed and addressed.