Anglers up in Arms over Neglectful N.R.W.

Letter to copy and send to all AM's in the 'Welsh National Assembly'

Save our Salmonid and Fish stocks in Wales from 'Goosanders and Cormorants'.

We are saddened beyond belief that 'Natural Resources Wales' continue to ignore the fact that 'Goosanders and Cormorants' are decimating Salmonid and Coarse fish stocks in our Streams, Rivers, Canals and Lakes in Wales, although this problem exists across the border into England, Scotland and also across the sea in Ireland, and even in Europe. You have a statutory duty to protect our fisheries in Wales and they will not enhance whilst you continue with your present managerial stance. Anglers are not the source of the problems here, your management of the issues are.

Administration and Enforcement.

 It shall be the duty of Natural Resources Wales to maintain, improve and develop the salmon fisheries, trout fisheries, freshwater fisheries and eel fisheries in the area for which they exercise functions

Because of our continual requests for the 'Goosanders and Cormorants' to be placed on the 'General Licence', so that everyone is involved in protecting the Fisheries affected. It is not entirely obvious why, but you chose to issue a restricted form of licence and making them difficult to obtain. From the evidence of those that have been issued. It is obvious that you recognised that 'Goosanders and Cormorants' were affecting fish stocks, or you would not have developed the present licence system.

Example:

Cormorants and Goosanders present on an Upper river beat seen today.

Licence application completed and submitted.

Few days later reply received ' Have you tried scaring tactics'.

Reply in the affirmative.

Few days again 'Which way did they go Upstream or Downstream'

Questions and replies time and again, for some reason, time wasting before a licence is issued for a small number of each (ie: 2 Cormorants 3 Goosanders) when there are possibly many more present at differing times of the day, differing area's, over 365 days. By the time the licence is issued those predatory birds have moved on somewhere else, even miles away to continue decimating stocks, they are predatory and despite all scaring tactics, will find a way.

Example:

(2 Cormorants 3 Goosanders) will decimate on average between them 100 fish of various species and sizes daily x 365 days in a year, (36,500) with an estimated 20,000 Goosanders in the UK that equates to (146,000,000) million annually, and as Goosanders breed on average 12 chicks each, every year, the situation with the present licensing scheme, does not, and will not, save our fish stocks, and those figures do not include predation by Cormorants into this equation.

A recent statement by 'Natural Resources Wales' states that within 10 to 20 years the Salmonid population in our rivers will be extinct.

Placing the 'Goosanders and Cormorants' on the General licence to involve all Anglers, Fishing Clubs, Fishery Owners, and the like is the answer available to avoid the looming collapse. Re-opening all the hatcheries that you closed down will also help. It is not intended to cull all, it is intended to redress the balance in nature, and this is to work with all other organisations relative to pollution and the like to protect and enhance Welsh Fisheries,

'Natural Resources Wales', leave your emotions at home, take action, and do the right things.

The contents of a 'Goosander' killed under licence Lower River Dovey with what appears to be the semi digested remains of some young 'Twaite Shad' a protected fish, and a couple of crabs. (Twaite Shad spawn in the lower Dovey)

A 'Rainbow Trout' you can no longer fish for ! the cost to Small Water fisheries and Reservoirs is astronomical.

A 'Perch'

A 'Chub'

The Black Plague on a Stillwater.

A 'Grayling'

A 'Salmon Grilse'

20 + Goosanders working an Upper Welsh Dee Pool in a group, nothing escapes!

Mother 'Goosander' with 30+ chicks in tow.

A Seatrout.

Dissected Cormorant killed under Licence, showing the massive damage caused in one day,  300 + Fry, otherwise they would have been digested. One Cormorant One feed, 365 days a year, you work it out.

 

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, MORE SIGNATURES ARE REQUIRED, PLEASE SHARE AND ASK THE RECIPIENT TO ALSO ENHANCE THE SHARING.

GWILYM HUGHES