After reading many of the river report threads on here, it paints a pretty grim picture all over the country, apart from the big rivers, (trent, severn? Any more?) The general opinion seems to be it's "the otters" but I'm afraid I do not believe that that is the sole reason, nor do I believe that they have had a massive impact on fish stocks, (if they are eating all the big ones, where are the small ones? I don't believe they are eating them all). I think, and please forgive my ignorance, as I can only really speak about the rivers on which I have experience, and even then only the last 6 years or so, but, the stretch on which I have seen the most dramatic decline in numbers of fish, is one where I have never seen any evidence of otters at all, and other stretches, where I regularly see otters seems to have even more small barbel than ever? Sorry for the long winded post, but unlike a lot of people seem on here, I think the problems we are facing go far beyond, otters, crayfish and habitat destruction and in most, (not all), rivers it is a combination of all three, (and others?), probably! But, the question now, is, what, if anything, can we do for our barbel? And for all fish, up and down the country???
P.S. this is not meant to be an anti otter, or I'm alright Jack, and I don't want to antagonise anyone, but rather than moaning about the situation, what can we do to rectify it?
Living in hope, Leon
P.S. this is not meant to be an anti otter, or I'm alright Jack, and I don't want to antagonise anyone, but rather than moaning about the situation, what can we do to rectify it?
Living in hope, Leon