INTERNATIONAL OTTER SURVIVAL FUND
7 Black Park
Broadford
Isle of Skye IV49 9DE
Tel/FAX: ++1471 822 487
www.otter.org
OTTERS AND FISHERIES CONFERENCE
DATE: Wednesday 7 November 2012
VENUE: Apex International Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh
There has been a lot in the press about otters being everywhere in the UK and some fishery people are
obviously concerned about their effect on fish stocks. .
Otters do not exist in the vast numbers suggested in the media – in fact the most recent figures quote the UK
otter population at about 10,000 but this is questionable. They may have a local impact but there are clearly
other reasons for the reduced fish stocks and these should also be considered. Otters and fish are clearly
vital elements of freshwater ecosystems and the biodiversity in these habitats.
IOSF is therefore planning to establish a Working Group with otter scientists and representatives of the
fishery community, including fisheries trusts, fish farmers, koi carp keepers and anglers. The aim is that this
Group can work together to provide accurate information on otters and their impact on fisheries and also to
provide practical advice and solutions to problems.
To bring this Group together IOSF will be holding a one day conference in Edinburgh with delegates from
all interested parties and those with experience in otter mitigation at fisheries from the UK and Europe. At
the end of the conference, representatives will be invited on to the Working Group and recommendations
will be drawn up for further work to be carried out by the Group based on co-operation between otter
scientists and fisheries. Proceedings will be produced for distribution to delegates but they will also be
made available through the IOSF website for the wider public and through various fishery websites.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
Topics covered will include the following but there will be plenty of time available for discussion:
OTTERS
Otter ecology, population numbers and distribution, past and present
Survey methods
Legal protection of otters
OTHER THREATS TO FISH STOCKS
Environmental damage to rivers including water extraction and pollution
Drought conditions in parts of the UK
Disease
Other predators (mink, herons, cormorants, etc) and invasive species
FISHERY CONCERNS
Anglers
Koi carp keepers
Fish farmers
MITIGATION
Practical measures to protect fish stocks
Working with otters rather than against them – an example of encouraging wildlife (including otters) at a
Scottish fishery
Possible compensation schemes as used in parts of mainland Europe
Delegates
Delegates will be drawn from the following:
 Institute of Fisheries
 Professional Anglers Association
 Angling Trust
 Specialist Anglers Alliance (koi)
 Salmon and Trout Association
 Koi Carp clubs
 Environment Agency
 Scottish Environmental Protection Agency
 Joint Nature Conservation Committee
 Natural England
 Countryside Council for Wales
 Northern Ireland Environment Agency
 Scottish Natural Heritage
 Water UK
 The Wildlife Trusts
 DEFRA
 Local Biodiversity officers
 Companies specialising in otter-proof fencing and other deterrents
 Representatives of organisations involved in the compensation scheme in Czech Republic and
Austria
 Members of the IUCN Otter Specialist Group
Working Group
The Working Group will have ten members covering all aspects of the otters/fisheries debate. Much
communication will be done by internet but it is envisaged that the Group will need to meet in person twice
a year at a mutually convenient venue.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Patron: Julian Pettifer. Joint Presidents: Laurence Broderick, Dennis Furnell. Head of Operations: Dr Paul Yoxon
IOSF is an international fund set up to conserve otters worldwide and is organised by SEC Ltd solely for this purpose.
Reg No 109031. Charity No SC003875