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Post by chubber on Mar 1, 2011 22:47:39 GMT
What is the EA policy on otters ? Are the EA going to stock waters after the otters have cleaned them out? When otters have cleaned all waters out of fish ,what will the EA do then? Do the EA have any say on the introduction of otters into river systems? Do the EA research into the sustainablity of these animals into river systems?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2011 18:47:29 GMT
Lat year there were some grants made to fisheries for fencing.Is there going to be further funding made available this year to fisheries which are prone to otter attacks to erect fencing in order to protect livelihoods and anglers leisure facilities?
If otter infestation on rivers and ponds becomes extreme does the agency have plans in place for a cull by lifting the protection orders in areas where fish fatalities are getting out of balance with the perceived environmental need to protect otters?
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Post by Pikeman23 on Mar 9, 2011 23:08:11 GMT
After reading alot about people having otter problems on fisheries and finding out that the ea is refusing funding for fences it sort of annoys me abit. As the people to help re introduce this why not pay the poor person whos just maybe lost there lively hood because of a problem you have actually caused by re introducing these animals?
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Mar 10, 2011 12:37:10 GMT
Q: What is the EA policy on otters ?
A: Otters are listed as a European Biodiversity Action Plan species and as such is protected by European law. What this means is that every environmental organisation, including the Environment Agency has a duty to protect them and their habitat.
It’s probably worth you taking a look at Otters – The Facts, which answers a lot of frequently asked questions about otters. You can find it, and a lot of other otter/fish stuff here
Q: Are the EA going to stock waters after the otters have cleaned them out?
A: No. Otters are a natural part of our ecology and only disappeared because of pollution to our rivers, something which we have worked hard with water companies and other partners to rectify. We are aware though that otters are feeding on stillwaters, some of which contain large fish or large numbers of fish. As otters rarely eat all of the fish they catch anglers are becoming more aware of their presence. What you have to remember is that we have created fisheries where hunting for the otter is easy and as a living creature it will always take the easiest food source available. Otters are something we have to live with because they are here to stay but there are measures we can take to deter them from coming into stillwaters. If you’re waters are affected then please contact your local Environment Agency fisheries team to discuss the options available to you. Remember otters are territorial animals and where they are present the mink are driven out. Mink are known to stockpile and hide food so you may never know just how many fish they had taken from your water before the otter arrived? Q: When otters have cleaned all waters out of fish, what will the EA do then?
A: See previous answer
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Mar 10, 2011 12:51:51 GMT
Q: Do the EA have any say on the introduction of otters into river systems?
A: No, any introductions in the past have been done by local environmental groups. The otters they released in Yorkshire were not bred in captivity but were rehabilitated animals which were re released after their recovery. There have been no otters released back into the wild since 1996.
All otters in the wild are protected principally under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010), with additional protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), as amended. The combined effect of these is that a person is guilty of an offence if he:
• deliberately captures, injures or kills any wild otter; • deliberately disturbs wild otters including, in particular, disturbance which is likely to impair their ability to survive, to breed or reproduce, or rear or nurture their young; or affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species; • damages or destroys a breeding site or resting place of such an animal. Or if he intentionally or recklessly: disturbs an otter while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection; or obstructs access to such a place.
The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations provide for the granting of licences to prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or any other form of property or to fisheries. However, a licence cannot be granted unless the licensing authority is satisfied: that there is no satisfactory alternative, and that the action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in their natural range.
Licences for the prevention of damage in England are determined by Natural England. Satisfactory alternatives might include exclusion techniques (e.g. fencing) or the use of deterrents. However, it should be noted that the use of deterrents themselves, in some circumstances, may require a licence. For more details contact Natural England’s Wildlife Management and Licensing Service
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Mar 10, 2011 12:53:04 GMT
Q: Do the EA research into the sustainablity of these animals into river systems?
A: No otters are a natural part of the ecosystem and have re colonised areas through natural dispersion. They have territories which can cover many kilometres and while we know where they visit due to the presence of lies or spraints, knowing where they will be from one day to the next is simply not possible. What we can be sure of is that they will only remain in an area if there is food and habitat to support them.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2011 12:56:16 GMT
Lat year there were some grants made to fisheries for fencing.Is there going to be further funding made available this year to fisheries which are prone to otter attacks to erect fencing in order to protect livelihoods and anglers leisure facilities? You did not answer the question on future funding. Is it something yet to be decided?
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Mar 10, 2011 13:03:11 GMT
Q: Last year there were some grants made to fisheries for fencing. Is there going to be further funding made available this year to fisheries which are prone to otter attacks to erect fencing in order to protect livelihoods and anglers leisure facilities?
A: Last year we contributed to the cost of fencing at three fisheries in North Yorkshire. These were from a pot of money dedicated to providing otter fencing. We have yet to receive our budgets for the coming year so we cannot say whether this funding will be available again. If you are having problems at your fishery with otters please contact your local fisheries team to discuss the possible options available. Although we do not have a dedicated otter “pot” at the moment, we would still be able to part-fund otter fencing from rod licence project money. We can bid to support up to half the cost of otter fencing on stillwaters with public access. All bids for rod licence money are competitive (there is not an unlimited budget) so we can’t guarantee success.
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Mar 10, 2011 13:04:39 GMT
Q: If otter infestation on rivers and ponds becomes extreme does the agency have plans in place for a cull by lifting the protection orders in areas where fish fatalities are getting out of balance with the perceived environmental need to protect otters?
A: Otters are protected under law and to change this would require an Act of Parliament. This is not something which the Environment Agency can alter and any application would need to come from Defra. We do however have regular discussions with all of our interested partners including Defra, the Angling Trust and wildlife organisations about this issue.
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Post by trigga on Mar 10, 2011 13:30:50 GMT
if in the future all fisheries have been fenced ,and this is a big if . you will be putting more pressure on the river system, and they will crash with a few fish too fish for . there's no win solution in my eyes ,there here and here to stay.. shouldn't you be thinking for sorting there main foods source EELS /or ponds that are well stocked by EA so they can feed on these . hope to hear your veiws EA
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Post by envagencyyorkshire on Mar 10, 2011 13:51:37 GMT
There's information on otter numbers and distribution in the otter survey report that you can download from www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/110740.aspx. I think it is unlikely there would be a 'crash' in river fisheries, even if all stillwaters were fenced off overnight. Over time, predator and prey will achieve a natural balance. We are working nationally to increase eel numbers following their recent massive decline. In Yorkshire, the best thing we can do is to get eels back into the places they used to live. Weirs and barriers built for flood defence, navigation and industry can prevent eels from reaching suitable habitat. We are building fish passes and eel specific passes to get eels back where they belong. We have also carried out some stocking of elvers in the Rother, Dearne, Aire, Calder and Ea Beck. The Don Rivers Trust and RSPB have helped us with our eel recovery programme. New byelaws and close seasons are also now protecting eel stocks.
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