The new group, currently called the English Carp Defence League, is the brainchild of respected carp angler Mark Holmes who is fed up with what he, and many others, perceive as a lack of action from authorities to the serious threat to fisheries caused by otter predation across the UK.
Mark explained:
“We want to make a difference to the terrible situation that is facing carp and carp anglers across the country.
I and many others have been warning about the massive threat that the haphazard reintroduction of otters poses to carp for years. Now we’ve seen that become a reality with the creatures destroying fish stock in rivers and unprotected stillwaters around the country.”
Mark went on to criticise the lack of action from the bodies who are supposed to be representing the interests of angling:
“Unfortunately instead of using the otter issues to rally anglers and swell its numbers the Angling Trust, the body that is meant to represent our sport, has failed to do anything to address the situation. The Environment Agency that gets millions of pounds a year from anglers through the rod license has done nothing to help.
Now I, and many other angry and disenfranchised carp anglers, have had enough and are looking to change things ourselves. We need to get the issue up the political agenda in angling.
We’ve seen too many fish wiped out already, not just carp either, look at the state of the Adams Mill on the Ouse where the big barbel have been decimated by otters. I don’t want to be in the situation where I have to explain to my kids what big carp once were because there are none left.”
Although not yet officially launched the group has already gathered the support of over 250 anglers – including some of the very biggest and most respected names in the sport, including FishingMagic Editor Ian Welch who has long voiced concerns over the loss of some of the UK’s finest barbel fishing as a consequence of otters.
“We’ve seen two of the finest barbel fisheries in history – Adams Mill and Sayers Meadow – destroyed and the upper Thames, Cherwell and Evenlode have been devastated and now my beloved Kennet is beginning to suffer badly.” said Ian
“We also lost some of the very best river perch fishing on the upper Ouse system and I hope to be working with Mark from a specialist angling point of view.” He added.
Mark is looking for the new body to be a pressure group lobbying the official bodies.
“We’re looking at short and medium term solutions, such as making funding for otter fencing more available and getting access to where otter holts are being built by groups and the EA themselves so that protective measures can be put in place by fishery managers.” he said.
“At the moment the authorities only seem to have long term plans which mainly revolve around nature balancing itself out. If we wait for that then many fisheries will be devastated, so hopefully we can get things moving as soon as possible.”
The ECDL will be holding a public meeting in January where it will launch its agenda and, it is understood, change its name to the Carp Preservation Group.
Anyone interested in registering their support should contact Mark at mkholmes@live.co.uk
