The next stage in the
cormorant issue is underway with the introduction of three Fisheries Management
Advisors (FMA’s), employed by the Angling Trust and funded by anglers’ Rod
Licence revenue, together with a new area licence allowing and encouraging greater
flexibility for fisheries being able to work together for greater effect.
They are in place for a
twelve month period, after which the effectiveness of the policy change will be
assessed by Defra, the Angling Trust and others involved in this issue. We
expect to be included in this.
Ministers have confirmed
that if, after this trial period, monitoring of the combined need for lethal
control exceeds the current national limit of 2,000 cormorants (and up to 3,000
for short periods), the limit will be reviewed.
The FMA’s are working hard
up and down the country, and are in no doubt about the scale of the task ahead of them.
They will need everyone to
get involved and take part. They will need a high level of uptake and energy;
and the early signs are good, with a great reception so far. This needs to
continue.
As is often the case with
anything like this, those who have been at the hub of it for so long need to
show a deal of stamina, and we think we have done just that, in bucket-loads.
This now also applies to those who have simply sat and watched and waited. It’s
easy to get tired and weary of what seems to be yet another hurdle to overcome,
but the fact is, unless we in angling all get our fingers out of our arses and
wake up and start working together for the common good, our sport is destined
for suicide by apathy.
Two of the FMA’s came and
presented at our local Wessex forum and I (the Trevor half of the ARP
partnership) was asked to give a ten minute talk on the background to the
campaign, how we have reached this stage and an introduction to them. I didn’t
leave anyone in any doubt about the seriousness of the situation and the burden
of responsibility that rests on all our shoulders.
In fact, ears were pricked; eyes
opened and attentions grabbed with hard facts and subtle poignancy.
It was suggested afterwards
that it would be an advantage if I could deliver the same introduction at all
the forums around the country just ahead of the FMA’s presentation. This, of
course, would be out of the question due to Avon Roach Project duties.
Two options were to either
have what I said written and read out ahead of the FMA’s, or make a little film
of it.
Well, would you believe it? Great
mate and ARP supporter from day one, Hugh Miles offered to make the film with us.
The link to the film is below.
A few weeks after their presentation at the local forum, the two FMA’s, Richard Bamforth and Jake Davoile, came and visited us here at Project HQ, then on to our stews at Bickton, and we were delighted at their enthusiasm and energy. They deserve everyone’s support; and indeed need everyone’s support, as without it they will be unable to deliver what we all need them to.
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| It's not as easy as it looks... |
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Talking’s done... Now off to make it interesting and spool through
the outtakes – yes, there were a few...
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A few weeks after their presentation at the local forum, the two FMA’s, Richard Bamforth and Jake Davoile, came and visited us here at Project HQ, then on to our stews at Bickton, and we were delighted at their enthusiasm and energy. They deserve everyone’s support; and indeed need everyone’s support, as without it they will be unable to deliver what we all need them to.
Details of these guys can be
found on the Angling Trust web site http://www.anglingtrust.net/page.asp?section=1031
Please, give your support. Encourage
the application for cormorant licenses on all fisheries with a problem through
your clubs, syndicates, river keepers and land owners, and encourage as many as
possible to take part in what may be the last chance we get to make the
difference we have all been bellyaching about for so long.
If a fishery has a problem
with cormorant predation but there has been no licence application then the
assumption will be that there is, in fact, NOT a problem.
Doing nothing is no longer
an option.
I mention in the film, our
‘Biodiversity in Danger’ document and that it can be found on our web site, so
for convenience we have duplicated this copy on our CORMORANTS section of the
main web site and dropped the ‘Biodiversity in Danger’ document below it.
The link to our CORMORANTS
section of our main site is below:-
