Problems caused by otters to be aired on BBC show.
The Angling Pressure group the Predation Action Group (PAG), has recently represented anglers at the Otters and Fisheries Conference, and succeeded in highlighting a number of problems stemming from otter numbers that have effected UK fisheries.

A report from the International Otter Survival Fund has now acknowledged that the otter population has recovered from the lethal effects of agro-chemicals in rivers in the 1960’s which almost caused their extinction in England. During the past 40 years immense changes of farming practice and legislation have all but eradicated the continued risk to otters that was prevalent in the 1960’s. It is also true to say the angling world has changed significantly in this period, particularly with regards to commercial values and also the significant contribution that angling makes to employment, the economy and peoples leisure and past time.

The overwhelming conclusion from the conference was that the information currently available about otters in the UK is inaccurate. All interested parties agreed that there is significant work to be undertaken to understand the true position, whether that is the spread and numbers of otters, how they respond to environmental factors, primary diets, and of course risks to fish and fisheries. The PAG welcomed this collaborative approach, as it is essential that the angling world is involved in this future work to ensure that all interests are represented.

Having attended the IOSF Otter and Fisheries conference The BBC Autumnwatch crew are fully aware of the threats posed to fisheries by otters and will be reporting the issues within a forthcoming programme focusing on otters. Fisheries in Somerset and the Midlands were visited and a couple of short films were made that will be aired in their Otterwatch special to be broadcast on Thursday 20th December at 8pm on BBC 2.