WIREDGOV

The Fish-Eating Birds Review, commissioned by Defra, last year published its recommendations on reducing the impact of predation by fish-eating birds in England. Natural England is now working with a Project Group of the Environment Agency, the Angling Trust, RSPB and others to take forward those recommendations. New measures include the introduction of three Fisheries Management Advisors (FMAs), and a new Area Based Licence that allows greater flexibility by encouraging and allowing fisheries to work together for greater effect.

Following a competitive selection process, the FMAs began work in late April 2014 initially for one year and will be employed by the Angling Trust. They will help fisheries better co-ordinate non-lethal management techniques and, where necessary, lethal control under licence from Natural England.

Natural England’s trial of Area-Based Management and Licensing will run from September 2014 to April 2015. At present, fisheries apply for lethal control licences individually. The trial will allow multiple fisheries to apply to Natural England for an Area Based Licence to more flexibly coordinate both non-lethal and lethal approaches in their area.

The new forms for the Area Based Licences have been designed to be as simple as possible to fill in and have been tested by a small group of fisheries, however, Natural England will be keen to get feedback on this throughout the trial.

By taking part in the trial, it is hoped fisheries will benefit from the sharing of best practice management approaches and greater access to hands-on support, as well as increased uptake of non-lethal management techniques, such as providing refuges from the birds for the fish. At the end of the trial, Defra will be seeking feedback from all fisheries involved to evaluate how effective the new approach has been.

Natural England’s Executive Director of Strategy, Jim Smyllie said: “This is a pragmatic solution that allows effective, targeted protection of fisheries without compromising the conservation of our native wildlife.”

Goosanders and mergansers were also considered as part of the 2011-13 review; new approaches to goosanders will be considered at up to two sites but mergansers will not be included in the trial. Coordinated, non-lethal approaches to addressing predation by these species are however encouraged and the FMAs will assist fisheries wherever possible.

Notes for Editors

• Further information on the management of fish eating birds can be found on the policy review webpage.

• The new licensing system will shortly be uploaded to Natural England’s fish eating birds page.

• Details of the work of the Fisheries Management Advisors can be found on the Angling Trust’s FMA webpage. The Fisheries Management Advisors are employed by the Angling Trust and their advice is free of charge to angling clubs, riparian owners and fisheries. They are funded from the Environment Agency’s rod licence income.

• The national policy limit on the numbers of over-wintering cormorants that can be killed under licence between September and April each year in England will not be increased.

• Natural England will set a limit on the number of cormorants that can be killed at specific sites across an area - as with individual licences - but fisheries can decide the limits per site and also when within the area to use that lethal control. Natural England will continue to allow the extension of licences into May to protect salmon and sea trout smolt migration, where needed, and will process any applications as quickly as possible, prioritising those who have the greatest need.

• The use of monthly limits on licences (whether individual licences or the new area-based ones) are not mandatory, and are at the discretion of the Natural England Wildlife Advisor. They would only be set where there is a real need, and after discussion with the licensee.

• The national limit on lethal control during the control period (1 September to 15 April each year) remains in place. After the completion of the 2014/15 trial of Area-Based Management and Licensing, if monitoring of the combined need for lethal control exceeds the current national limit, the limit will be reviewed. Defra remains committed to an evidence-based approach and to ensuring the conservation status of the cormorant is not threatened.