Hi guys
This could be a bit 'long winded' but of utmost importance.
I attended an EA meeting last night.....to which I had pre submitted a question for review.
Having received a 'pack' upon entry containing the written answers to questions I had to listen to an EA delivered speech on 'effective two way communication' and how EA 'delivers' to its 'stakeholders'.......then told there would be no time to take serious questions on the answers given in item 7 of the agenda(Answers To Written Questions)....10 mins allowed for 14 questions.
let alone I had no time to consider their answer.
Don't panic.....I took them to task on the issue
and now have the opportunity to have a proper debate at the next meeting..with the author of the response......but will come to that shortly.
It transpired that the subject of the national stocking policy is now a "closed book" and archived in 2015.... or at most, one that has slim chance of re-opening with new 'evidence'.
Apparently its what WE want......so come on.....WHO SAID IT?
In a room of about 25 non EA ......only 1 person spoke against me....his stance that his members liked to kill an odd one or two, but didn't want to kill the wild ones, so was happy to yield.
So EA want item 4 on the agenda...."Communication Strategy" to be a keyword......In the words of Steve Chambers..."I can guarantee to listen,I can guarantee to get it to head office,but after that....."
In my own words,here on this forum......I will push this FURTHER than EA too.....with your help....we need a groundswell of rejection.
The 'policy' is NOT work in progress and NOT likely to be reviewed without support from the ground upwards.
Not an easy task!....I realise there will be many out in forum land that have no concept of the implications of stocking 'triploid', 'farmed', and 'genetically b@ggered' trout in relation the sustainability of our WBT(wild Brown Trout) population......maybe some forum debates on 'scale adhesion' or 'skeletal deformity' for example.
Did you know that scale adhesion was one of the formative points in the keeping of 'closed season' on rivers?.......you may find out why later
My mind is spinning and I'm still incensed....so if you feel I'm out of order then please say so.
I suppose I should post my question and it's response.....I've already 'picked the bones' of the response(and will leave to see if some of you lot cover the 'issues') but would like lots of 'well considered' points to communicate back to EA and also the advisory committee I sit on.
This may even go to print.....with permission from admin.....but shouldn't unduly worry anyone who uses a pseudonym.
My question
Quote:
In relation to the stocking of triploid Brown Trout in our rivers in the new national policy.
In the 'response' document EA say "The impact of triploid trout on wild trout recovering from spawning is an area that we would wish to examine in further detail"
What has been implemented thus far and will this be based on 'models' developed in Europe....or fresh studies undertaken by EA?
Will these studies encompass the impact of triploids,having no feed suppression at spawning time,being a major predator to wild fish sustainability?
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Answer
Quote:
One of the areas that we wish to research in further detail is the potential impact of over-wintering triploid trout and fertile farmed trout on the recovery of wild trout after spawning.No research has been carried out on this aspect as yet,due to us not being successful in securing funding for this specific work.However,we will continue to pursue funding oppertunities that will allow us to undertake this new work. This is likely to be in partnership with other researchers with an interest in this field in England an Wales
It is the intention that these proposed studies will examine the diet,behavior and condition of stocked triploid, fertile farmed trout and wild spawning trout during spawning and recovery through the autumn and winter periods.We already have some limited research evidence on these aspects from the collaborative research project undertaken with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (previously the Game Conservancy Trust)
Observations of the behaviour of radio-tagged stocked triploid and fertile farmed trout alongside wild spawning trout demonstrated no movement of the triploids to the spawning areas,when both fertile farmed trout and wild trout were seen to be spawning together.
Examination of the summer diets of stocked triploid,fertile farmed and wild trout showed the wild trout to be greater predators of small fish than either type of stocked fish.
From typical spring stockings,both types of stocked trout do not survive or grow well to the end of summer.At best 15% of the stocked trout were re-captured during summer surveys.This indicates that relatively few of both types of stocked trout are likely to survive through to the spawning period.
All types of trout, being cold blooded, will experience suppressed appetites during the cold autumn to spring periods,coupled with naturally reduced availability of food at this time.
Contrary to popular perceptions,triploid trout are actually less agressive than either fertile farmed trout or wild trout.
As already mentioned and notwithstanding these preliminary observations, it remains our intention to implement this additional research to examine these over-wintering performance questions in detail.
We would point out that our revised trout stocking policy was based on factual research evidence, collected from throughout the native European range of the trout,rather than from any conceptual models as is suggested in the question.
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Phew!
Three things are very clear:
EA have implemented nothing as far as research is concerned!
EA will not do so unless funding is given
EA science guys could do with a few pointers as to reality.... from us hands on guys.
I'm not 'blaming' EA (at the sharp end
)......they have constraints.
EA National Stocking Policy for Trout
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