- Joined
- Feb 26, 2009
- Messages
- 277,087
- Reaction score
- 8
This is a dedicated thread for discussing article: Chub, Otters, Barbel and Heroes. Welchy Weighs In: December
As until recently I was exclusively a member of the public rather than also a fisherman I have welcomed the return of the otter as a sign of the returning health of our rivers. This would be my stance as a MOTP; thinking fishermen are just as selfish and narrow-minded as the pigeon-fanciers that want culls of peregrines. Another species that came close to extinction in the UK due to our heedless attitude to the environment.
Peregrine will always go for the easy kill. Otters probably do the same. Your 'Specimen' is possibly an old duffer that was due, in the natural order of things, for involuntary retirement.
I must repeat the mantra; if we had good stocks of fish, we would not notice the impact of predators on fish populations. The problem is fish, not otters, and I am glad a learned scientist like Ian has confirmed this.
I must repeat the mantra; if we had good stocks of fish, we would not notice the impact of predators on fish populations. The problem is fish, not otters, and I am glad a learned scientist like Ian has confirmed this.
"Learned" scientists once stated the world was flat, even though lesser mortals thought it not so.
Wrong way round Paul.
From Pythagoras onwards (600 B.C.), the "learned scientists" all knew it was round.
The "lesser mortals" took a little longer.
But he's still supporting them Mark - and so perhaps should every angler, for these reasons if not others
"I applaud Mark’s efforts and have gone on the record as supporting the aims - as far as our rivers are concerned anyway - as, in my opinion, anything which helps to highlight the state of our rivers, and in so doing has the potential to bring positive change, has to be a good thing. It is, perhaps, ‘doomed to fail’ as Paul Boote and others have suggested on the forum but when it is something as important as the future of our rivers I for one would sooner try and fail than not try at all..."
We should exactly be campaigning "look at the state of our rivers".
We should be campaigning for research into why so many of our fish are not reproducing enough to self sustain their populations. Do we really want to start again every 10-15 years when the EA introduces fingerling barbel ect.
Most of us who choose to fish rivers over comercials do so because we want to fish in a natural environment, predation is natural.
The EA have made a big song and dance that the otter is now in every county in the UK, holding this up as a sign that our rivers are health. We need to be making a big song and dance when the otter starts to disappear which it surely will in our failing rivers.
I also think that anglers and fishing clubs should be looking for the EA to provide habitat improvement instead of token stockings
No matter what happens I think the river angler has got a bitter pill to swallow for the next few years but I feel if we play our cards right we could end up with a better, healthier river system in a decade or so's time.
All the best
Richard
- Home
Wrong way round Paul.
From Pythagoras onwards (600 B.C.), the "learned scientists" all knew it was round.
The "lesser mortals" took a little longer.