More about Cormorants

Any of the Trust’s member clubs, fisheries or riparian owners who are experiencing damage to their fish and fisheries by cormorants can call the Cormorant Control Hotline on 01244 573019 where BASC’s game and gamekeeping department will give advice about the best way to deal with the problem within the constraints of the current cormorant control licence and wherever possible visit the fishery and carry out the shooting free of charge. BASC’s Game and Gamekeeping Department will also give free help applying for and completing the paperwork required for a licence from Natural England.

___________________

Tuesday 2nd August 2011

Defra Announces Scope for Cormorant Review

Following the Angling Trust’s campaign for reform of the policy relating to cormorants and other fish eating birds, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP has written to the Trust’s chief executive setting out the timetable for the review.

Defra has also published on its web site the terms of reference, scope and timeframes for “an evidence-led review of Defra’s current policy in relation to controlling the impact of predation on inland fisheries and fish farms from fish-eating birds, and, specifically, in relation to the threat of serious damage caused by cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers”.

The review will be in four phases:
1) evidence and data gathering
2) analysis and assessment (including advice to Defra Ministers as whether evidence indicates public consultation is appropriate)
3) public consultation (if required based on outputs of phase 2)
4) reporting and recommendations

The review is due to report in Spring of 2012.

Angling Trust Chief Executive Mark Lloyd said: “This review will be evidence-led and it is therefore vitally important that anglers keep reporting sightings of cormorants and other fish eating birds on our cormorant watch web site - www.cormorantwatch.org. More than 25,000 birds have been logged on the web site in the first two months, which is a great start, but we will need data from throughout the year, and throughout the country if we are to make the case for change.”

Contact:
Media enquiries only: mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net or 07973 468198.
Angling Trust enquiries: admin@anglingtrust.net or 0844 7700616.

Notes to editors:
1. More details available on the Defra web site at: www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/07/12/pb13588-impacts-predation/
2. The Angling Trust’s Cormorant Watch web site can be found at: http://www.cormorantwatch.org/
3. Richard Benyon’s letter to the Angling Trust can be downloaded: HERE
4. The Angling Trust is the representative body for all game, coarse and sea anglers. It was formed in January 2009 following an historic merger of six angling bodies. It is supported by membership subscriptions and donations from anglers and the angling trade.