FISHERIES AND OTTERS

Worrying recent reports show that there are isolated incidences of otters being trapped and killed, often in barbaric circumstances. Many fisheries and anglers groups work very closely with the Wildlife Trusts and otter groups, and welcome the return of the otter, an indicator of healthy fish stocks. There is, however, a growing concern amongst anglers and fishery managers that otters are taking fish, particularly from still-water fisheries, where they are stocked at high densities. When some of these fish are worth several thousand pounds apiece, it is not surprising that managers become hostile to otters. At the same time, particularly when fish are torpid during the colder months, if they are left unprotected, otters are bound to take advantage of an easy meal.

Work on otter diet has, however, shown that the majority of their food comprises smaller fish species. A recent report looked at otter post mortems and analysed the stomach contents of the dead otters – there was very little evidence of larger fish forming part of their recent diet.

Work has been done to look at ways of protecting fisheries, using fencing and decoy pools for instance. The Specialist Anglers Alliance have commissioned a report on otters and fencing, which can be viewed at www.saauk.org. The Wildlife Trusts are also working with the Environment Agency to produce a guide that will support those working with anglers and fisheries. This will dispel myths around otter predation, and give tips as to how predation can be minimised.