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I'm not convinced. If there were they would be easy enough to track down. They would be escapees and would likely be semi tame ( certainly not accustomed to hunting for their food) and not able to survive inconspicuously I don't reckon.
It's only a matter of time before a GW is filmed taking a seal. Our sea temps are comparable with areas on the eastern seaboard of the US where they are present. It's no secret that they are present and probably breeding in the Med as well.
Yes that's right. As a kid I remember seeing huge 'tunny' on display in, I think, Powys castle (or similar) and reading up on it to learn that they were fished out of existence. I think it was also partly due to the collapse of the herring fisheries?
I hooked a seal once near Aberdaron on the lleyn and it gave a good account of itself. 😃
Edit: I'm not actually sure if it was hooked, but either the hook pulled or it let go of the dead bait I was using 🤷
Is it also possible, do you think, that less people are fishing these days after a 'heyday' 10 to 20 years ago?
I only recently returned to barbel fishing and this forum after a ten yearish absence.
Personally, I'd put belief that burbot still exist just behind belief in the Loch Ness monster, but apparently there is new evidence that Nessie is real, so you never know! 😁
Perhaps that's right about the grouse moor 'firewall'. They do seem to like grouse - not many in Wales, so do you not believe that could hinder a reintroduction? 'No grouse here, so let's eat lambs boys!' 😁
Interesting, thank you. I can't see it happening personally. I'm no ornithologist, but Scotland isn't that far away and you'd have thought that the birds would have taken up residence without the help of humans if the habitat was suitable.
I'd love to see them though.
I don't think they're still here tbh. Reports and pictures would have surfaced surely.
Having said that, I didn't believe that there was a golden Eagle resident in Wales until it was found dead last year.
Yes I agree with you. It's like the proposed golden Eagle reintroduction to Wales - fanfared by ERW and then the prospect immediately all but squashed by Natural Resources Wales.
I thought I'd hooked a blue shark once fishing on the Lleyn peninsular for conger. It all but emptied my multiplier before turning round and coming right in to below my feet under the rock platform I stood on. At that point the line went slack and an 8 foot long seal with teeth like a...
Even so, anglers are often the first to notice problems in our waterways whether they're able to take part in practical conservation work or lobbying etc or not. The canaries in the mine so to speak 😁. I think even discussing issues on forums is playing a part, although, granted, a small part...
It is great PR for anglers though. I know a few non anglers who have commented on how much they've enjoyed the show. It puts us in a good light, in contrast to some of the negative press we get.
I find it frustrating that anglers have long been the most natural and passionate environmentalists, but are regarded as rabid bloodsport loving sadists by many.
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