Anglers have requested the RSPCA to droop seal releases at Sutton Bridge to be suspended with a view to shield fish shares in our rivers.
The Angling Trust says that vital injury is being prompted to fish shares within the River Nene after 5 tagged seals moved into the Peterborough space. A seal has additionally been noticed within the River Glen at Surfleet and in Baston Fen space.
Working with Peterborough and District Angling Association – which takes care of the River Welland in Spalding – and 24 different golf equipment, the belief has expressed concern on the growing variety of tagged seals launched from the RSPCA Rehabilitation and Rescue Centre at East Winch which have travelled upstream into freshwater environments as an alternative of heading out to sea.
The belief has pressured that spending extended durations in recent water areas may injury the seal’s well being together with having an affect on freshwater ecosystem.
Injured seals which have been cared for on the RSPCA’s East Winch website in Norfolk have been launched at Sutton Bridge for a lot of years.
Angling Trust’s CEO Jamie Cook stated: “In spite of the efforts made by the RSPCA team at East Winch to map suitable tides and conditions for release, evidence suggests there are an increasing number of seals re-introduced at the Sutton Bridge site which are travelling into freshwater rather than their natural marine environment.
“We have therefore asked the RSPCA to immediately cease re-introductions at the Sutton Bridge site in order to protect both the seals as well as the native freshwater fish and wildlife they are encountering. We have no objection to the release of rehabilitated seals in line with government policy and have asked the team at East Winch to consider coastal release sites which will assist the seals in orientating themselves back into their natural environment and colonies, rather than finding themselves trapped alone inland.”
Rob Harris, Chairman of Peterborough & District Angling Association, stated that an Environment Agency report confirmed that the decrease River Nene can’t maintain predation by marine mammals alongside the present pressures of air pollution and local weather change.
He added: “On behalf of P&DAA and clubs and organisations we represent across the Eastern region, we will continue to challenge the unnatural presence of seals for prolonged periods within freshwater inland fisheries and fight for the sustainable, successful, and healthy development of angling.
“To be clear, we wish no harm to seals and are concerned that they should be returned safely to their native coastal environments. The support and efforts of the Angling Trust are very welcome and represent exactly the need to ‘come together’ as anglers in order for us to ensure the future of our sport.”
The Angling Trust have contacted the British Divers Marine Life Rescue workforce and requested their experience in returning the rehabilitated seals again to the ocean. The Environment Agency have a statutory obligation to guard freshwater fish and as a result of proof of a number of circumstances at this single launch website the Angling Trust have additionally requested for his or her assist in guaranteeing that seal releases at Sutton Bridge are suspended.
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