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Post by daiben on Apr 21, 2021 11:14:42 GMT
Having not fished the Tywi since 2019 ,due to health issues/ corvid ect, what effect has the fish eating birds had on the river ?? There was a flock patrolling the Manoravon waters and above, if I could get permission , I will gladly stalk these birds, who are clearing out young fish......[/quote] Hi oldcollier, There has been a Culling License issued through NRW for the last couple of years based on an annual count. Once again, an application for a License to control Cormorant and Goosander numbers on the river will be made by C.F.F. next month so over the next few weeks, volunteers will be carrying out at least 3 visits each, at different periods of the day and on selected sections of river, to determine current numbers. |
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Post by oldcollier on Apr 21, 2021 11:55:51 GMT
Silly question.....but, should I apply direct to NRW or via my club. Does anyone know if there are rules to the gun used for culling ?? Jesus it good to be back on here !!
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Post by daiben on Apr 21, 2021 12:20:18 GMT
Silly question.....but, should I apply direct to NRW or via my club. Does anyone know if there are rules to the gun used for culling ?? Jesus it good to be back on here !! NRW don't issue individual Licenses and I believe that culling is only allowed on certain sections of the river and by a controlled number of selected Guns. |
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Post by oldcollier on Apr 21, 2021 12:37:12 GMT
Thanks fo the info, I can remember at least 15 cormorants roosting ,drying out, in an old tree by the riverside , our rivers have no chance unless these are wiped out and driven back to the sea where they belong......
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Post by henben on Apr 21, 2021 12:43:52 GMT
Silly question.....but, should I apply direct to NRW or via my club. Does anyone know if there are rules to the gun used for culling ?? Jesus it good to be back on here !!  NRW don't issue individual Licenses and I believe that culling is only allowed on certain sections of the river and by a controlled number of selected Guns." Clubs have collaborated in the past by asking their members to help in spotting and counting the numbers of goosanders on their waters. This information has assisted the application by CFF for a permit to shoot them. For obvious reasons the use of guns is strictly controlled. |
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Post by rodney on Apr 22, 2021 17:55:30 GMT
How many birds was the cull licence for. There needs to be a continuous cull as those culled will soon be replaced. It's no different to popping off squirrels, as they are soon replaced by their cousins.
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Post by daiben on Apr 22, 2021 18:30:48 GMT
Hi rodney,
This is an annual exercise and the licensed number of birds allowed to be culled is based on the Carmarthenshire Fishermen Federation's organised F.E.B. count carried out by angling club volunteers throughout the length of the Tywi each year.
For whatever reason, I am seeing far less goosanders now than I did 5 years ago.
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Post by rodney on Apr 24, 2021 21:59:37 GMT
Hi rodney, This is an annual exercise and the licensed number of birds allowed to be culled is based on the Carmarthenshire Fishermen Federation's organised F.E.B. count carried out by angling club volunteers throughout the length of the Tywi each year. For whatever reason, I am seeing far less goosanders now than I did 5 years ago. |
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Post by rodney on Apr 24, 2021 22:01:36 GMT
Hi diaben.
Thanks for this. I wasn’t aware of angling clubs’ annual FEB count and am awaiting a response to an enquiry to my club. Meanwhile perhaps you can advise the CFF’s annual FEB count for the past five years or so and the actual number of birds culled. What time of the year does this count occur and when is the cull.
One of my club colleagues, who lives local to the river, saw about half a dozen cormorants when walking the water just prior to opening day. And another mate, who fished the river the second week in April, disturbed some Goosanders.
However, as you’re seeing less Goosanders on the Towy than five years ago the cynic in me thinks perhaps there’s nothing left for them to eat so perhaps they’ve gone elsewhere, or maybe the cull is working!!
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Post by daiben on Apr 25, 2021 8:58:19 GMT
Hi diaben. Thanks for this. I wasn’t aware of angling clubs’ annual FEB count and am awaiting a response to an enquiry to my club. Meanwhile perhaps you can advise the CFF’s annual FEB count for the past five years or so and the actual number of birds culled. What time of the year does this count occur and when is the cull. One of my club colleagues, who lives local to the river, saw about half a dozen cormorants when walking the water just prior to opening day. And another mate, who fished the river the second week in April, disturbed some Goosanders. However, as you’re seeing less Goosanders on the Towy than five years ago the cynic in me thinks perhaps there’s nothing left for them to eat so perhaps they’ve gone elsewhere, or maybe the cull is working!! Hi rodney, You asked, ' Meanwhile perhaps you can advise the CFF’s annual FEB count for the past five years or so and the actual number of birds culled. What time of the year does this count occur and when is the cull? 'I don't have all that information but I'll PM you a contact link to a reliable source. When I said I'm seeing less birds now than I was 5 years ago I wasn't implying that there is no longer a problem with them on our rivers. Still too many around in my opinion. |
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Post by rodney on Apr 25, 2021 14:53:30 GMT
Thanks. I would have thought all or many Towy anglers would be interested to know this data as well and surprised why it’s not already in the public domain.
Yes I agree, still far too many FEBs about, which begs the question that any culling isn’t working.
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Post by henben on Apr 25, 2021 16:09:14 GMT
"Yes I agree, still far too many FEBs about, which begs the question that any culling isn’t working." Yes - because the number allowed by the NRW in the annual culling licence is inadequate. My experience is different to Daiben's. I have seen more goosanders this year than ever. Everytime i go to the parts of the rivers that I fish, they are there in groups from 2 up to 8. They are a real menace. |
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Post by rodney on Apr 26, 2021 22:11:41 GMT
"Yes - because the number allowed by the NRW in the annual culling licence is inadequate."
What has been the number allowed by the NRW for each of the previous years in force.
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Post by weatherman on Apr 26, 2021 22:40:13 GMT
In accordance to culling with guns, is it essential to use non-toxic ammunition, I.E. the same for wildfowling etc. It's illegal to use lead when shooting waterways/estuaries etc.
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Post by henben on Apr 27, 2021 8:03:29 GMT
"Yes - because the number allowed by the NRW in the annual culling licence is inadequate." "What has been the number allowed by the NRW for each of the previous years in force". Not sure of present numbers but a few years back I think it was circa 7-8 birds p.a. I'm not 100% certain - memory not what it was - but I don't think I'm far off. |
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Post by rodney on Apr 27, 2021 10:32:23 GMT
"In accordance to culling with guns, is it essential to use non-toxic ammunition, I.E. the same for wildfowling etc. It's illegal to use lead when shooting waterways/estuaries etc."
I surrendered my firearms certificate and shotgun licence quite a few years back so not up to speed with current regulations. But from your post it implies some shotgun cartridges are still available with lead shot. I'm surprised lead isn't banned entirely.
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Post by daiben on Apr 27, 2021 12:24:29 GMT
What are current environmental regulations on the use of lead ammunition? Restrictions were put in place in 1999 in England, in 2002 in Wales and 2004 in Scotland, over wetland areas and for duck/geese shooting because of evidence that wildfowl were ingesting lead shot.Currently, in England and Wales, lead shot is banned on or over any area below the high-water mark, on or over certain Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and for the shooting of ducks, geese, coot or moorhens. In Scotland and Northern Ireland lead is banned for shooting anything on or over wetland. This information has been sourced from the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust website. The future:- basc.org.uk/lead/ |
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Post by rodney on Aug 27, 2021 17:08:03 GMT
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Post by daiben on Aug 28, 2021 7:55:06 GMT
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