I have a friend who is contemplating taking the lease on a fishery but the reason the current owner is giving up is cormorants.
Getting rid of these bad boys would be vital to make it work again - short of going up on an evening with a shotgun, what else can be done? Do cormorants target browns as well because that was one option being considered?

From experience,

If it's got fins a cormorant will eat or attempt to eat it, even if its too large to swallow.

As a "protected species" it is illegal to shoot them (unfortunately) They are almost impossible to "move on" once they know a source of food is available.

Tell your friend to think three times - at least - and then save his money.

Tony

goosanders are just as bad,there are hoardes of them on my local river,and theyr there as theres nothing left in the sea for them to eat ,,the people that matter will do little either,as they cant see past there own nose,they know better after all,and again it wiil be too late before anything gets done.
all these probs start at sea.

I've no idea why I posted this in photo section!

Actually - neither do I, was intrigued as to why anyone would title a photo "Black death"

But the advise stands.

Tony

Shoot the bloody things! One lake I visit the owner carries a loaded 12 bore in the back of his jeep....

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Rich





ukswff.co.uk

Not knowing what type of water your talking about, is it possible to put a net/netting over the water? Ask as this is a very common approach at many of our hatchery operations here in the PNW.

True, moving the netting would/could be a 'project' when you want to fish, but it beats paying for all that 'bird food.'
Fred

Long knecked ducks are shot hereabouts. They also seem to get caught in a lot of rabbit traps. I think those get washed into the stream or something. If you get enough people fishing the river they will spook and move on to somewhere quiet.

A friend of mine hired a guy who kept birds of prey. A month or two of visits and no more oily backs.

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Jonathan

"The first men that our Saviour, dear
Did choose to wait upon Him here,
Blest fishers were; and fish the last
Food was, that He on earth did taste:
I therefore strive to follow those,
Whom He to follow Him hath chose."

Issac Walton - The Compleat Angler

You can get a license to shoot to kill these birds. Most stillwater fisheries (coarse and trout) have to apply to DEFRA for theirs. Dont be disheartened when you are given leave to shoot a small number. In my experience you only need to shoot small numbers to rid the flock. I haven't killed my full quota in 3 years.
**** post Beanzy

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