Sea trout.ducks slaughtered

[phill_itofish]

The problem is nature needs to be balanced and unfortunately otters are spreading fast with no predation. They are now widespread around Newcastle and are decimating fish stocks in some of the smaller rivers such as the Wansbeck, Pont and Blyth. Fishery owners in other parts of the country are either having to spend thousands on otter proof fencing or, as some have done, just close down.

I take your point mate but I don't think its down to man king to balance the otter population. I don't know what the otter natural predators would be but if, take the Wansbeck for example, If in Year 1 the otter population boomed, the fish stocks would decline, In Year 2 the otters would have less pups, or less surviving anyway, so in year 3 year the fish stock would increase. Also as the fish stocks declined there food source would increase meaning there young would have a better survival rate the next year.

Now I know in reality it probably wouldn't happen year to year it might happen over 3-5 year cycles but nature would balance its self. Its mankind who get in the way of nature and messes the whole system up.