THE Angling Trust and the Avon Roach Project are working to encourage anglers to help cull cormorants - and it involves an online effort that YOU can get involved in.
The Angling Trust and the Avon Roach Project are trying to generate a large-scale response to the Government’s consultation on the General Licence to shoot birds.
It currently permits the shooting of ten bird species that are identified as pests, but it excludes cormorants.
Only a limited number of cormorants can be shot under a special licence, after first proving that they are causing damage in a specific area.
The Angling Trust and the Avon Roach Project want cormorants to be added to the General Licence. They say that should enable fishing clubs and riparian owners to limit the impact of these fish-eating birds in a more effective way.
Martin Salter, head of policy at the Angling Trust and a long-time campaigner for cormorant controls, said: “The Wild Birds General Licence Survey runs until December 5, and we need responses from as many people as possible.
“If you don’t participate this time around, please don’t complain if nothing gets done,” Martin concluded.
Trevor Harrop established the Avon Roach Project in response to the species’ near-eradicated on the Hampshire river over a decade ago.
He said: “I have worked my socks off for more than a decade helping to reinstate a healthy population of roach into the Hampshire Avon, and I now strongly urge everyone to take part in the online survey, to assist the continued recovery of our rivers, streams and lakes.”
Background evidence and material is on the Angling Trust website, along with guidance notes to help complete the survey. To fill in the survey visit this link.
For more on this story, plus all the big news stories and top tips, read this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.
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