WHY DELAY? WHY DELAY? WHY DELAY?
Update 20th October.
UK, 20,000 Goosander population, will decimate on average 20 head of fish each, daily, that is 400,000 fish , between them daily x 365 = 146,000,000 (million) yearly, lost by the end of the year 2024. Goosanders breeding habits, say, 10,000 hens yearly 12 chicks each on average means that by the end of 2024 there will be an additional 100,000 of them making a total of 120,000 which means a possible impact on the fish population through predation alone of 876,000,000 (million) by the end of 2025 and with the present state of play will continue to increase the predation into the extinction of our fish stocks. This does not count into the equation the predation by 65,000 Cormorants, purposely, to show our consideration for natural wastage. Those figures are generous to show the reality that exists to those who oppose a 'General Culling Licence'. Responsibility will come to rest with those who oppose this required action and will be ultimately responsible for the outcome of this 'Predation'. It is not the 'Angling Fraternity' fault here. We do not want to witness 'National Resources Wales' coming out in 2025 with the report that the Salmonid stocks are so low that they have to 'Ban Salmon Rod and Line Angling' as was previously mooted, taking action against the Anglers similar to those of 2020, no more bullying the Licence paying 'Angling Fraternity'.
The campaign 'Save the Salmonid and other Fishes' group is ready and willing to deliver on this, we need the 'Goosanders and Cormorants' to be placed on the 'General Licence' and in full consideration of this, the 'Action Plan' talked about in Wales here by National Resources Wales, if based on anything other than a 'General Licence' will fail, the evidence available now and common sense dictates this.
Why? you may ask. 'Goosanders and Cormorants' are predatory they have to feed to survive they have no County or Country, River, Canal or Lake boundary to work within, they are free to travel wherever they want and also predate and breed at will protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, since 1981. They have succeeded now within this protection, to bring the fish population especially salmonids to a very low level, described as leading to extinction in the next 10 to 20 years in Wales here. The river catchment area's in Wales are smaller than the catchments in England and Scotland and Northern Ireland and was bound to show this predation effect sooner, believe us, this is starting to show and will become more apparent in the other Countries sooner than you may think.
When you get comments and excuses such as 'Pollution' and 'Global Warming' and 'Habitat' thrown in as reasons for this demise, We wish to point out, simply, 'Goosanders and Cormorants' do not eat or predate on Pollution, Global Warming and Habitats, they predate on and eat the very fish that are living and presently surviving in our fisheries, yes, surviving the Pollution, Global Warming and Habitats, the very habitats that Salmonid species have occupied and survived in for centuries, with very little human habitat interference until the recent past. Again, this 'Petition' is about tackling that predation issue, and anyone that ducks and dives to avoid that issue should not be involved in the decision making.
In the very lengthy 'National Resources Wales' report following the July 2022 meeting, 19 points were agreed upon which has moved forward into preparing an action plan which reportedly will not be ready until 2025 ? On page 72 of the report is the following:
Where salmonid stocks are assessed as being ‘at risk’/’probably at risk’, and if licensing tests are met, it is recommended that NRW extends licences on such river catchments to include the smolt migration period (a critical period for salmonid populations), subject to limits on the numbers of birds to be licensed. This would need to be accompanied by population modelling to understand the consequences for fish-eating birds, and additional monitoring to inform ongoing adaptive management decisions.
RSPB Cymru and Welsh Ornithological Society do not support the above recommendation.
Is the tail wagging the dog here? It would appear so!
Meeting after meeting following complaint after complaint and indecision leads one to consider, not fit for purpose maybe? We the 'Angling Fraternity' want to help, but our claims on a continual basis seem to fall on deaf ears or is the above suspicion 'tail wagging the dog' a correct assumption?
The relationship between the 'Angling Fraternity' who pay their way through licensing scheme's in Wales has reached an all time low with 'National Resources Wales' and is likely to completely fail if the Powers in being do not fulfil their lawful obligations on the fisheries front, and soon.
There are articles in the November issues of both Trout and Salmon Magazine by Lord Carlile CBE KC and Mark Bowler Editor of Fly Fishing and Fly tying Magazine, concerning the issues.
I wish to thank both Magazines for their support on behalf of 'Save the Salmonid and other Fishes group'.
This week's Update picture was taken recently on the middle reaches of the River Teifi, 5 Cormorants in the picture, with another 3 flying overhead.
Please support the 'Petition' by VOTING and SHARING.
Write to your AM / MP or visit their surgeries with your complaints.
Thank you for your support.
Gwilym Hughes