This recent picture of a 'Seatrout' of about 4lb in weight caught on the River Teifi, this September. The fish is possibly 4 years old or more. It will have hatched in the headwaters of the River Teifi, and spent 2 years avoiding predation by all, through the smolt stage and migrated to sea, possibly returning as a first sea winter fish having avoided predation there also, at about 1lb or less. Then again avoiding predation in the river of it's birth, migrating to sea once more to grow on and mature, a fast swimmer when chased, and in deep open water able to protect itself, to a degree. It returns to the river of it's birth with a view to spawn and regenerate its kind, on its upstream migration, and this happens to it !!! 'Cormorant' predation, leaving it in a right mess, which no doubt eventually with its intestines hanging out would kill it, pre spawning and reproducing, this is awful, and is totally unacceptable, no more meetings, or evidence gathering and reviews is required, the writing is on the wall, wake up !!.
THE FOOD OF OUR NATIVE 'KINGFISHERS' AND 'HERONS' UNDER THREAT
What happens when the staple diets, of our native birds is decimated by non-native imposters the 'Goosander and the Cormorant' coming inland, to our Rivers, Streams, Canals and other fisheries, is wiped out?, yes what happens then?. Repeated warnings being put aside by 'emotionally led' meetings regarding the possibilities. The predation is and will lead to a total collapse of our fisheries. It is no less than 'crazy' in the circumstances.
We know that the fish stocks are diminishing, there are also reports of far less 'Kingfishers' being seen along our rivers on a recurring yearly analysis. There are reports of 'Heronries' being taken over by 'Cormorants', who peck at the leaves of tall trees that are hundreds of years old, killing them as a result, also those trees and bushes underneath these roosts which are dying, killed by the 'Cormorant' droppings, have you ever been near one to witness the unforgiving stench?
'Angling' the biggest participant sport in the UK, worth around £150 million yearly in Wales alone, is under threat due to the lack of direct action to protect the fisheries.
'Herons' wade the margins of the streams, rivers, ponds to fish, their pray can swim away from them, not all of them, but most can, have you ever seen a fat Heron?. 'Kingfishers' only dive for their pray in the margins of our streams, rivers and ponds, they are in and out in seconds, the staple diet being mainly minnows, whilst the non native 'Goosander' and visiting 'Cormorant' effortlessly swim and dive deeply through every nook and cranny of our rivers, decimating every small fish stock, and larger, in their paths, it is unsustainable and in need of urgent address, before it's too late. Where are the Powers in being, those that are charged to deliver under Section 28 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975?, where are they?, in their charge of 'Maintaining and Improving' fisheries?, whilst at the same time meddling within matters under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981?.
I am pleased to report that this week I was interviewed on BBC Wales News Chanel, on S4C News Chanel, by Llyr Edwards, and also on BBC Radio Phone in by Jason Mohammed, regarding the 'Petition' and what the problems are, these can be found on Catch Up, BBC i-player.
More are planned with the Fishing Magazines and the Newspapers to come.
Please share the 'Petition' far and wide and also secure as many votes as you possibly can, now is the time for you all to take action on this, you know what to do!, I can't do all of it alone, you are needed to secure a positive result.
For further updates after today's please log into the 'Petition' or onto my facebook page, each weekly update is dated.
Thank you again for your support
Gwilym Hughes