Otter Predation

It seems a common problem across the country according to the Angling Times and my angling club has suffered this year. Otters have been seen on one of our lakes over the winter months and it looks like the majority of the carp have been eaten, judging by the number of corpses found around the fishery.

Is there any non-lethal method of stopping otter predation. Electric fencing has been suggested, but is this effective?

Contact the Specialist Anglers Allance (SAA), they have done some work on Otter predation

Is this all something to do with the country side alliance, etc making more bird and wildlife sanctuarys?and in some cases taking or trying to take over waters?

Before this thread gets out-of-hand I've copied this from SAA site
Part 1.
Otter Predation - Update!
Most of you will be aware of the problems faced by fisheries from otter predation, particularly for still-water carp fisheries where specimen carp to over 30lb have been taken. The otter is a protected species of course, and anglers welcome its re-introduction. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we identify and secure the funding for adequate fisheries protection measures where they are required. In asking Government to help fund these measures, we are delighted to draw on the support of English Nature, The Wildlife Trusts, and the Environment Agency who have supported our approach at the highest level. We would now like to update you on the progress we have made against our long-term objectives to contain the escalating problems we face.

Firstly note that SAA are now acting on behalf of the National Angling Alliance (NAA) on all otter predation issues, so we have secured the full backing of the UK’s official angling body. This means that we have the full support of the angling bodies from all branches of our sport whether game, sea or coarse, not just specialist angling, which again demonstrates how effectively Unity within angling is now working!

SAA have now met with the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), English Nature, Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts and were encouraged at the level of support we received. Our approach to Government centres on three key areas;

1) We are seeking to change the law so that any future releases of captive bred otters, or indeed any other captive bred mammal, can only take place under licence.

Last December we were delighted to report that the main-stream organisations represented by The Otter Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Steering Group (which includes the Wildlife Trusts), and the Otter Trust, are all in agreement that there will be no further introductions of captive-bred otters in the UK. However, some smaller bodies are still considering releases and we are looking to introduce proper controls as captive bred otters have been responsible for some well publicised incidents of predation of large carp, and of trout, possibly exacerbated by the these particular otters lack of natural fear of man.

It should be noted however by anglers and water controllers that wild otters (even in low numbers) still hold a significant threat to large carp, particularly in winter, and measures should be considered to protect stocks which may be at risk. The results of the Otter Survey of England, currently being undertaken by the Otter BAP Group, will assist in identifying areas particularly at risk in advance, and advice on protective measures such as fencing is available from trained personnel.

Part 2.
2) We need financial backing to fund research which will accurately determine the most cost effective fencing methods, which will not necessarily be electrified

We need a project to determine the best options on fencing for fisheries protection for the huge range of waters that will want to install protective measures. The varying terrain those waters are located in could also mean a wide range of options need to be established. Then that data needs to be made readily available to everyone as part of the invaluable advice already available from the Wildlife Trust Otter Officers and the Environment Agency.

(For full details see the Environment Agency explanatory leaflet “Otter Predation-Is My Fishery At Risk?” from your local EA office or by writing to their Fisheries Department at EA, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS12 4UD).

3) We are looking for substantial funding from Government for fisheries protection, which is likely to primarily apply to non-commercial still-water carp fisheries with valuable stock.

Otter predation can cause serious problems so it is imperative we secure funding, as without it prime fisheries will suffer fish kills which they will be unable to counter. Otters have been responsible for killing numbers of valuable carp and causing major financial loss to the owners of the fisheries, which could provoke conflict between anglers and the conservation movement. This is something we are committed to avoid.

I add that David Arnold-Forster, Chief Executive, English Nature; Dr David Clarke, Head of Fisheries, Environment Agency; Dr Simon Lyster, Director General, The Wildlife Trusts, and Professor David Bellamy, President of The Wildlife Trusts, all support the need for effective control of introductions of mammals including otters, and for financial support for fisheries owners affected by the return of otters.

The NAA now believe that otter predation is getting out of hand, and as the main instigators of moves to address the problem are urgently seeking funding for fisheries protection.

Whilst there is unlikely to be an immediate resolution to these issues we have received a sympathetic hearing from an influential group of Government representatives and we anticipate moving forward from here to the next stage quite soon.

For further information contact Chris Burt at SAA via our e-mail address Info@saauk.org

Phil Hackett
Conservation Officer
SAA

How do they propose to fence off rivers Phil?

You cant but rivers are where the Otter belongs. We need to re-introduce its natural food to the rivers. I belive its the demise of Eels and other silver fish through over fishing the sea. This as driven the Cormarant inland raiding the rivers that as driven the Otters to seek food futher afield. It is good to see everybody is striving to holt further introductions into the wild. We are very good in this contry at protecting species as it should be but we never set a level where they then loose that protection. One last question what happened to all the Mink that were released you still see them on the Ribble are these not responsable for some of the deaths.

JP, I don’t think there is any proposal to fence off rivers or canals which are the natural home of the otter. It can only be to protect the commercial loss to our artificial fisheries. However, if and when such fisheries are protected then it will only increase the perdition on the rivers. I can’t see anyone suggesting we cull the otters that are causing a problem at the moment, so they will have to be moved, and we will then have an angling debate round “not I my back yard”
Nature has a way of reaching a balance that generally means something dying because there is not enough food and such balancing acts occur in cycles; very low fish stocks first, then the cormorants, otters and other fish eating predators die back until a balance is reached. Occasionally the weather can also act as a controlling mechanism. If one of the predators can’t hack the change then it becomes extinct, and if the fish cant hack it then everything further up the chain becomes extinct, nature holds no truck with a species that can’t adapt, including man. In my mind it is more important to protect the base of the food change than dabbling with bits of it higher up. By far the greatest threat to our fish stocks is the environment.
As an aside issue, but relevant in some way is the modern angling attitude of bagging up. If a natural balance is to be achieved then we should tone down the numbers hype and up the total angling experience. A day out where you only caught a few quality wild fish and saw an otter should be way out in front of a bagging up session, wishful thinking thought, there’s no commercial value in being at one with nature.
Sorry about the ramble, but it’s back to work this morning after a very nice Easter break with a bit of fishing, during which I saw an otter in my swim and caught a few nice tench as well.

Sorry, I wrote a lot more this morning but it didn't read right and I didn't have time to do it again, work eh, the curse of the drinkimg classes.

I am quite happy to see the re-instatement of otters if their river habitat is also to be re-instated, but that is not going to happen is it.

I can't ever see the EA getting on top of the problem of abstraction and the more insidious types of pollution (nitrates and phosphates) and until that happens then the rivers just will not be able to support a population of otters.

Certainly on the H.Avon there are just not the year classes of fish that there should be to maintain a stable population of either fish or otters.

Thanks for the input guys, especially PH 2.

Looks like the SAA have got the right idea.
It's just a shame that otters and anglers are brought into conflict because of the decline of natural habitat etc.

JC - Did you see the otter at Stainton basin on the Lanky Canal - cos it was probably the same one that was seen on Holehird Tarn nr Windermere this winter!

Lain, yes. Are you saying someones moved the otter?

John C. Not truer word spoken than in what you call a ramble.

A factor that has been missed in the black plague issue is the fact that waters are not frozen over for weeks anymore like they were when we were kids. I even remember the rivers being frozen in the deeper slow parts as well.
As a result of global warming, stillwater are only frozen for a few days at a time at the most these days.
Subsequently, the plague is not staving to death when they come inland during the autumn and winter like they should be. Leading to their numbers increasing due to a better survival rate.

Checks and balances as JC points out

post 1.
PRESS RELEASE:

OTTER PREDATION OF CARP FISHERIES &

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

In January 2003 our long campaign for Government funding for fisheries protection measures from otter predation culminated in an approach to Government on the effects of otter kills on UK carp fisheries. This bid has been spearheaded by the Specialist Anglers Alliance on behalf of the NAA, and called for ?250,000 pa on a ten year programme, to part fund the fencing materials we so badly need to guard against the incursions of otters. We centred on the fact that whilst the otter enjoyed full protection under EU and UK law, anglers had no means to prevent the damage they can cause.


Our approach has the backing of English Nature, The Wildlife Trusts, and the Environment Agency. Furthermore the EA are funding research to properly define the most cost effective methods of fencing, ready to advise fisheries on the best methods of preventing fish deaths.

The means to fund such fishery protection measures however is beyond the vast majority of water controllers.

The impact of otter predation continues to grow in prominence, as so graphically illustrated in the Angling Times on 9th and 16th March. The damage to the fishery concerned (Bigwood) received full publicity, with carp to over 40lb killed, but we can offer no means of preventing a reoccurrence at this or any other water across the UK. The situation will inevitably get worse as otters continue their recolonisation across the country.

Post 2.
Most otter kills do not of course get any publicity whatsoever, so at The Carp Show of 20th and 21st March we took a sampling of angler’s views. The main thrust was with a “petition” asking if anglers “supported our approach to Government for funding the fencing we so desperately need, in order to protect our fisheries from otter predation”. Not surprisingly one can guess the answer was an overwhelming “yes”. What was telling however was that we only intended to sample opinion, there were only two of us asking anglers each day to contribute to this over the two days of the exhibition, yet over 1,000 anglers signed up over the 7 hours or so of the show each day. Petition numbers can be misleading, but for this number to go along with us so easily is highly indicative of the strong feelings now prevalent within the sport that we are not getting fair treatment, and no-one argued against us.

Also, at the same time we conducted a straw poll asking if their waters had been hit by otters. We learnt of no less than 19 waters which have suffered significant fish losses, waters we had never heard of, over and above those named waters already in the public domain. Many, many large fish to 38lb have been killed. It graphically demonstrates that the publicised losses to otters are only a tiny proportion of the actual fatalities that are occurring. Fish of this size have a market value of ?2/3000 each, and are also very difficult to replace.

Other mainstream sports can no doubt bring more political pressure to bear than we can, and other areas of public interest such as the Arts also capture enormous funding from the public purse, perhaps for a relatively small minority. That does not however change the fact that the impact of otter predation on anglers is an unfair and heavy burden, which will only increase over the coming years.

We would stress that anglers fully support the reintroduction of the otter, and welcome its return, but it is unfair to reintroduce a top flight predator into the managed environment that is Britain today and not anticipate the consequences. Fisheries should not be decimated in the process! Government funding for fisheries protection measures is imperative, and the NAA is calling on DEFRA for action.

Chris Burt, Vice President SAA (Specialist Anglers Alliance)

On behalf of the NAA


FROM: Chris Burt, 3 Great Cob, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 6LA

Tel: 01245 262835. Mobile 07802 328842. Fax 01245 608452

Email chris.burt1@btopenworld.com