'Fish Protection Bureau' to compile evidence of otter attacks on stocks
FISHERY managers nationwide are rallying to raise awareness of the continued threat of otters to their livelihoods – and it’s all thanks to the introduction of a new data-collecting initiative.
The Fish Protection Bureau is the creation of a team of like-minded anglers whose businesses have suffered over the last ten years due to the introduction of the otter.
One of them is renowned fish farmer Mark Simmonds who feels that fishery owners deserve the right to be able to defend their stocks, but agrees that a huge portfolio of evidence must first be collected to prove just how damaging the mammal can be.
Mark told Angling Times:
“The purpose of the Bureau is to provide a point of contact for those who have been impacted by otters over the last decade.
“It doesn’t matter if you run a carp water, a river venue or a multi-lake complex – we want to know just how you have been effected by otters.
“We want to know how many fish you have lost and how many thousands of pounds you have paid to ensure they’re are kept out of your fishery.
“We know otters have affected thousands of people and if each could submit information of their personal damages the evidence will be overwhelming – we will eventually have something substantial to present at Government level.
“Ten years ago, I nearly went bust after losing over £250,000 worth of stock however I managed to survive, but others aren’t so lucky.
“I want to reiterate we are not trying to create a nationwide cull of the otter here – we simply want to have the same right as farmers and protect our livelihoods.”
The news of the Bureau’s creation has already made waves in the angling community especially with carp syndicate owners, whose businesses have been hit hardest by otters.
Reading-based complex CWA Fisheries suffered from a breach over the Christmas period and lost around £8,000 in carp when a family of otters entered the site’s Long Lake.
Manager Alan Cooper said:
“In the space of three weeks I lost pike, tench and eight stunning carp including a 32lb mirror that I’d grown-on in my own pond from mere ounces.
“On Christmas day I even had to make the 35-minute drive from my home to the fishery, as yet another carp was found dragged up the bank.
“Besides the cost of lost fish, I’ve now had to fork-out £50,000 for a fence to ensure this doesn’t happen again, and around £300 on dead salmon so the otters have an alternative food source from my carp – the situation has simply been terrible.
“The Fish Protection Bureau is a superb opportunity and if we can get 1,000 fishery owners all providing proof of loss of finances and business, we can show on a massive scale just how otters are slowly killing our sport.”
How you can get involved…
If you’re a fishery manager, fish farmer, club chairman or syndicate owner who’s been affected by otters over the last 10 years, you can submit your complaint and loss of assets to the Fish Protection Bureau. The Bureau want to know:
You full name, address and contact number
The damage caused to your fishery
The quantity of fish lost due to an otter attack
How much money you lost due to an otter attack – cost of buying an otter fence, new fish and loss of membership numbers
The location of your fishery
If you would like to participate you can request an information form by emailing your interest to FishProtectionBureau@protonmail.com
How you can apply to trap and release otters that are inside your fishery…
On January 1st 2020 Natural England announced that a licence could be obtained to capture and transport otters trapped in fisheries to prevent damage. For a full description of the terms of the licence, visit www.gov.uk/government/collections/otter-licences
Did You Know?
It is an offence to disturb, injure or kill otters as they are a protected species. Trapping to injure or kill an otter – whether deliberately or through carelessness – is a serious offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Offenders face an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.
