Culling Cormorants

[Paul Arden]

I think it's pretty much undeniable that cormorants are now a serious problem to freshwater environments all across Europe. Has the time not come and gone where their protection should be lifted so they can be legally culled? And what would the process be to make this happen?

Cheers, Paul

[Marc LaMouche]

And what would the process be to make this happen?

pointless...

[Paul Arden]

Why?

[totsy]

This process is already underway in the uk to a certain extent. Check the angling trust website.

Ta, Lee.

[flybye]

Without the cormorant my 12 gauge would be completely redundant

[Paul Arden]

Thanks Lee, that's good news. It's interesting how they've received protection across both East and West Europe. Does anyone know a brief history behind this?

Thanks, Paul

[Paul Arden]

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1348

[jakefly]

basically, the cormorants could be seen as fish eating ducks with pointy beaks. So find some good receipts for cooking them and we'll be alright. I've seen some proposals in german flyfishing-forums.

J.

[pyko]

Paul,
Not sure of the legal path that needs debated, but I agree it's a huge problem. Last year talked to one of the guys on a beat of the Tay, cold winter & all the lochs were frozen, so the birds move to running water.
At the junction pool we were at he said there were over a hundred birds working the water - his licence allowed him an annual cull of 19.
3lb of fish a day, each.
Salmon smolts, trout, grayling, everything.
Read this.
Trouble is, with sand eels being fished for inshore & the RSPB acknowledging sea birds suffering from lack of food, thery're beiing driven onshore. Not their fault really.
Plus, not just them, there are mergansers & guillimots too.

[jakefly]

The C emptied the upper half of a small river of a local fishing club, I had the license for. No graylings anymore, c's skit on certain trees etc.. Apart from some big herons I accidentally disturbed in the woods along the riverbanks.

apart of that, I can#t stop the nonsense:
Why not tell the world, C-skin contains a special aminoacid which prevents from ageing big time. ... evil thaughts, I know ....

[Paul Arden]

One of my local trout streams was annihilated by cormorants two years ago, near Hungary (in Croatia). On the Drava we have thousands of them - more than I have ever seen - and they used to be a huge problem on Ardleigh accounting for it was believed 40% of the fish stock. In Hungary I do know a few people who cull them, but they are running a huge risk.

Everyone I have talked to who has shot them tell me that they very quickly become difficult to shoot. There has to be a balance somewhere. When you protect a bird for long term you shift the balance in their favour. They do appear to be in abundance...

Cheers, Paul

[petevicar]

On a lake that is close to my house the local angling club have installed rafts with loudspeakers that transmit ultrasonic waves.
These tend to scare off most birds but there seams to be a few that are deaf.

[Paul Arden]

I was reading through some bird sites that said structure and even suspended wires should be employed to protect the fish. So if I understand this argument correctly starving cormorants to death is a more humane method of culling them compared to the gun!

[petevicar]

The wire must be connected to the electric and then they won't starve.

[Janesch]

Paul this year as well. Total devastation on kanal. Hope Asps were to big for them...