CONTINUING NEGLECTFUL BEHAVIOUR OF N.R.W.
To reiterate, both 'Goosanders and Cormorants' have no County or Country boundaries, and if you have watched the speed of both in flight, they can be 40 to 50 miles from their roosts in an hour, nowhere is out of reach or any longer safe , from the present unsustainable 'Predation'.
As fish stocks diminish these 'Predators' are finding and creating new Roosts across the Country, bringing themselves closer to where the fish stocks are healthier in our Streams, Rivers, Lakes, Reservoirs and Small Stillwater Fisheries, so eventually, at the present rate of breeding and increase in predating, soon there will be no fish left to reproduce.
This 'Predation' is now also affecting the Otters, someone sent me this picture, it speaks volumes.
INCASE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ONE
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
AN EVALUATION OF THE PRESENT LICENSING SCHEME
AND PROHIBITIVE RESTRICTIONS.
Dovey Fishing Association 1929 Ltd, Licence Number SO90183/1 Operative between 17th November and 15th March.2021-2022, covering approximately 300 miles of main rivers and tributaries in the Dovey catchment.
BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS FACED DURING APPLICATION PROCESS AND RESTRICTIONS PLACED UPON THE APPLICANT A LICENCE WAS NOT APPLIED FOR IN 2022/3.
REALITY.
Presently known Roosts to River Dovey catchment. (From 1 mile to 30 miles away) by flight line, with up to 100 Cormorants and 200 Goosanders (minimum count) present.
'Predators' that can be culled.
Cormorants (2)
Goosanders (3)
Between March and November each year (the remaining numbers breed far more in excess than what the licensing scheme allows to be culled?)
Restrictive Licence in 'Predator' numbers and time of year.
Detailed within the 5 pages of definitions within the licence:
No more than 2 adult Cormorant and 3 Adult Goosander shall be killed under this licence. Killing shall be limited to the minimum necessary to reinforce scaring No more than 1 Cormorant and 1 Goosander shall be killed per calendar month up to the total number of birds specified by this licence.
Birds must only be shot when actively feeding.
Birds may be shot only with a 12 / 16 or 20 bore shotgun, no other firearm to be used
Lead shot may not be used.
Birds must only be shot when present in groups of two or more
Shooting must not be undertaken at night or within an hour of sunrise or sunset.
Licences are expected to exercise the utmost care to avoid disturbance to wild birds and in
particular to avoid any action which might endanger breeding success. Failure to do so
may result in the licence being revoked
A co-ordinated scaring programme involving non lethal shooting to scare; eg blank
cartridges, physical presence, shouting and hand clapping. A scaring log must be kept and
submitted to NRW within four weeks after the licence has expired.
Together with many other restrictions which serve no useful purpose if the scheme was to have any effect to reduce 'Predation'. NRW have and are insulting our intelligence with their views, which can only be described as processed to protect the very 'Predators' we seek to control to save the fisheries.
When you evaluate the above as a package it would be impossible to lethaly control 'Predation' if all the restrictions were adhered to, shotgun range maximum 40 yards, especially whilst wearing bright clothes and shouting and scaring at the same time ?? , it beggars belief that anyone within NRW could come to rest with this decision when finalising the nonsensical 'Licensing Scheme'.
NRW have little to no means to police this and place this responsibility on the honesty of the applicants and their team of operators under the licence, the same as the Byelaw introduced in 2020, their view of 'Saving our Salmonid populations' ?? whilst in their wisdom having also closed all the hatcheries, including the privately run hatchery on the Dovey system ?? it makes no sense whatsoever. Is there another hidden agenda here, looking at NRW's release of a document that they were considering 'Stopping Salmon Angling ??' , I again reiterate, to protect the Salmon to breed more Salmon to feed the ever increasing population of the 'Avian Predation', to breed more to feed on more Salmon …. an so on !! 'Predation' into total collapse!!
THERE IS A SOLUTION
'GENERAL LICENSING' TO REDRESS THE BALANCE IN NATURE
RE OPEN THE HATCHERIES TO RUN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABOVE
PLAIN COMMON SENSE.
If you haven't already done so, please prepare a letter to your local MP / AM, Councillors and the like, or visit them in person at their surgeries, or anyone that you feel may be able to support the cause, share on social media or via your contact book, and generate more VOTES and SHARES to get N.R.W. to change their stance on this.
YOUR ACTION IN THIS IS A VERY NECESSARY REQUIREMENT
IF YOU TRY YOU RISK FAILIURE, IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL ENSURE IT !
In the hidden darkness behind closed doors, within the workings of N.R.W. relative to this issue, create suspicion, just look into this extract from their Website.
Advisory Group re 'Avian Predation' on 13th July 2022
The advisory group comprised representatives from NRW, RSPB Cymru, Welsh Ornithological Society, Afonydd Cymru, Salmon and Trout Conservation Cymru, Angling Trust, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, and were advised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and two independent experts on fish and avian population dynamics and wildlife conflict resolution. Representatives from Welsh Government, Natural England and NatureScot participated as observers.
Research: Afonydd Cymru ? Research: Salmon and Trout Conservation Cymru ?
Why should Natural England and Nature Scotland be there ?
Who are involved in the Committee's of these various groups?
Now we are told that a 'Freshwater lead Specialist has been appointed to take forward an action plan over the next two years' , is there one, who is it ??
2022 to 2025, 3 YEARS WASTED YEARS, WHY?
WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE!
The trap is already laid by NRW, beware !! infringement will risk not only 'Revocation of the Licence' but also the risk of loosing one's Shotgun Certificate and prosecution.
Further investigations will continue into these matters and you will be informed of the outcomes, in due course, in the meantime please help as much as you can.
WRITE TO YOUR A/M AND M/P or anyone you think can asist!
WRITE TO N.R.W.
WRITE TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
COMMENT ON THE 'PETITION'
VOTE!
SHARE!
INCASE YOU MISSED LAST WEEKS UPDATE
PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE INTERVIEW
BY FIELDSPORTS.CHANNEL TV
IT IS INCLUDED AT THE END OF LAST WEEKS UPDATE.
There are also a number of other updates:
Click on the link below and scan through.
Thank you for your continued support.
Gwilym Hughes.