There was a report from a member of an otter being seen on Little Budworth Pool on Friday 2nd August.

We have followed this report up very quickly and have been in touch with our contacts at The Angling Trust for their advice.

The following details have been initially supplied and will be discussed at the forthcoming Committee meeting, The Angling Trust will also be attending to provide further advice. We will contact you again with any update. 

Our next Committee Meeting will be on Wednesdays 14th AUG 2024.
Tarporley Community Centre.

Reply from The Angling Trust

I have visited Little Budworth (LB) with Roy Garton from the club in the past, but I principally went to look at the Oulton Mill pond in that area about a mile to the west. I’ve also offered advice on a number of the club’s other pools, e.g. Budworth mere, Cotebrook Mill pond, Milton Book etc.

Looking at the photograph which Adam forward along, I can confirm, that the image is of a European otter, and not to be confused with the Short-clawed otter they experienced on Cotebrook Mill pool a few years ago, which was a non-native ‘escapee’.  This looks to have a strong muzzle, so I’ll even go so far as to hazard a guess at a dog otter.  If so, they can and do travel considerable distances.  Otters do not live solely on one water, but have a territory comprising often of multiple pools, streams, rivers etc.  Otters are now found in every county of the country and will have been visiting LB for a considerable time.

As I am sure you are aware, but European otters and their holts receive full legal protection under both European & British legislation. 

(Irrespective of the UK vote to leave the European Union in June 2016, the European Otter and their holts are still afforded full legal protection until such time that the legislation could be reviewed and if and where necessary alternative protections could be applied).

Otters are now protected principally under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2017), with additional protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

The combined effect of these is that a person is guilty of an offence if he:
·    deliberately captures, injures or kills any wild otter;
·    deliberately disturbs wild otters including, in particular, disturbance which is 
likely to:
·        impair their ability to survive, to breed or reproduce, or rear or nurture their young; or
·        affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species;
·    damages or destroys a breeding site or resting place of such an animal.

Or if he intentionally or recklessly:
·        disturbs an otter while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for shelter or protection; or
·       obstructs access to such a place.

BUT just because an otter is frequenting the pool and you’ve maybe lost (with the greatest of respect) say a ‘few’ fish, please don’t immediately panic.  Some places do manage with otters visiting occasionally and it could well be that any otter(s) visiting your pools are simply passing through and taking the occasional fish, with little or discernible impact. Having said that, some sites do suffer severe losses and are left with few alternatives, other than to fence.  In a way it’s trying to determine how often they are visiting, every night, vs once a month, the size and scale of the losses and do your own Cost : Benefit analysis, compared to the cost of fencing.  Setting wildlife trial cameras at suitable points could provide you with an insight into the frequency of their visitations?

Please don’t misinterpret my next comment the wrong way, but having good water quality, good marginal vegetation etc will provide an environment within which fish will be more likely to self-recruit naturally and thereby sustain a level of predation. Seriously consider the potential adverse impacts IF the club look to undertake a heavy ‘cropping’ exercise to reduce the silver fish bio-mass, purely with the intention of allowing the carp to grow on.

By that I mean, if the venue cannot be adequately fenced and maintained thereafter, please seriously consider as to whether it is the best venue to create the clubs ‘bespoke’ specimen carp water.

Deterrents –
Unfortunately, alternative deterrents, e.g. flashing lights, radios, predator alarms, (and lion dung!) are ‘generally’ all very short lived, with otters often becoming habituated to them within a matter of days (if at all deterred in the first instance).  Admittedly they may be deterred by human presence and dog walkers, but otters will quickly learn to time their visitations accordingly.  BUT, you need to be conscious you’re not compromising their legal protected status. 

Alternatively, and this point I cannot stress strong enough, that fences (even those using bespoke products) are all too often bypassed and essentially a waste of money, if they are inadequate and not maintained etc.

Fencing – ?
·        To the best of my knowledge LB is leased by T&DAC, so the appropriate landowners consent would be required if you are looking to fence.
·        The area in question is not a designated site, in terms of a Site of Special Scientific Interest etc, nor are there any listed buildings, listed parks & gardens to take into account.
·        There is a formal public right of way in the north-eastern shore for circa 150m, which you would be legally obliged to accommodate.
·        The overflow to the former mill race would be problematical to adequately otter proof without causing a potential flooding risk. The pool does lie in Flood Zone 3.  Again, it’s often resolvable.
·        The short section along the highway would need to be carefully thought through to avoid complications with County Highways and the proximity of any overhang, but again it’s not insurmountable as Nantwich AC (?) found at Big Billinge.

A quick measurement online of a suitable boundary fence line cutting through the woodland to avoid excessive metreage but going wide to accommodate the inlet area would still be in the region of 1,000m. Realistically, an electric e-wire deterrent system would not be suitable, and neither would a chicken/rabbit mesh (with or without e-wires. So, you’d be left looking at a more ‘bespoke otter fence, which based on this year’s costings would be close on £30 per metre.

As you are probably aware the Angling Improvement Fund (AIF) for those seeking funding assistance towards Predation themed projects, e.g. otter fencing, fish refuges is currently closed, but hopefully it should reopen in early 2025.  The AIF will not necessarily provide 100% financial assistance, with this year the maximum AIF award being set at £6k; and without wishing to appear negative, given the competitive nature there are no assurances of funding being awarded. Having said that, good, well presented and well thought out projects are usually funded and again I can assist with the form.  Also, please be aware that you cannot claim retrospectively.

Whilst I appreciate its soul destroying, please keep any images you have of predated fish, spraint, runs etc, which could form part of your evidence base should you wish to submit an application.

NOTE – When it comes to live trapping of otters under the Class Licence (ref. CL36), that merely refers to those fishery sites which are deemed to be adequately fenced. In the event of trapping said otter(s), the licence then ONLY permits the otter(s) to be released unharmed, immediately on the outside of the fence. If the weakness in the fence, gates, inflows/outflows etc is still present the otter will simply regain entry, or another otter will ultimately find that point of weakness.

I’ll leave it there for now and I can provide more information should you wish. If you would prefer to meet in person (free of charge) and discuss the matter further, then please do not hesitate to get back in touch.