Taunton Angling Association

1 week ago

Protecting Our River Tone – A Call for Action
At the bottom is the latest campaign/survey aimed at preventing the collapse of our natural waterways due to the now plague-level numbers of the continental subspecies of cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis).

At Taunton Angling, we have always accepted that still waters and ponds can be protected with appropriate anti-predation measures. However, it is our natural rivers that are now being decimated at an unprecedented rate.

Most of you will have seen large numbers of cormorants sitting on the flyover on the lights above the River Tone over the last several winters.
But the problem is not confined to the town stretch alone. large numbers are now present on the lower river and along the Canal as well.

Over the last several years, Taunton Angling has kept detailed match fishing records. These clearly show a rapid and consistent decline in average rod weight per match. While this is not a formal scientific study, the findings are nonetheless stark and impossible to ignore (see the attached graph).

The most obvious reason for this decline is the near-total collapse of key small species such as Roach, Dace, small Chub, and Brown Trout. Sadly, we could list even more species that have all but disappeared from what was once a renowned section of the River Tone – particularly the Fast Stretch.

The fish that remain are largely too big for cormorants to swallow. However, this does not mean they are safe. With fish forced into ever-smaller shoals, and the predation pressure is intensified, and the long-term outlook remains bleak.

This loss of fish stocks will inevitably impact the wider river ecosystem, threatening other wildlife that depends on healthy fish populations, including Herons, Otters, and Kingfishers.
Once the adult fish are gone, there will be nothing left to protect. At that point, the river may as well be piped straight to the sea.
This is particularly concerning given the significant investment already made in renewing salmon passes, allowing the adult Salmon and Sea Trout access to their breeding headwaters—only for their parr to be eaten well before they even have a chance to migrate to the sea.

Over the years, Taunton Angling has actively pursued mitigation measures. We have proposed installing hurdle fencing and refuge structures in key washouts below weirs, including backfilled branches to give fish sanctuary from relentless cormorant pressure.
We have also discussed with the Environment Agency if they can reinstatement of washed-out weirs lost many years ago due to silt build up.

In addition, we explored the possibility of restocking fish using club funds, but this was declined on several occasions by the Environment Agency. Instead, we were provided with 400 Roach marked with a blue tattoo dot to monitor survival rates. Club members were asked to report any captures. To date, only five have been reported being caught.
With hindsight, this outcome suggests the Environment Agency’s caution regarding stocking was probably justified under current predation pressures.

However, doing nothing is no longer an option.

If we fail to act now, we risk losing not just our fishing, but the river itself as a functioning, living ecosystem.
So, this may well be our last chance to stand up for what we believe in: a natural balance.
What we are seeing now is not nature in balance – it is an infestation, and the consequences for our rivers are already plain to see.

So please take the time to fill in this survey

Kind regards TAA

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1432931501525843&id=100044270207415If you only read one thing on my page then make it this🔥🔥🔥.
Cormorant numbers are out of control. We are seeing more and more all over the uk. With devastating effects on fish stocks. Contrary to popular belief moaning on Facebook wont achieve anything. Literally nothing. We need evidence of increasing numbers to strengthen the case that they are out of control. This will also help empower clubs and fisheries to act. So what can you do? Well this is where the Hydro-scape group come in. Basically a cormorant watch site in layman's terms where we can all report sitings all over the uk. This will make a difference. The data will be used to protect fish stocks. But only if we all start using it. Apathy is us as anglers biggest enemy. So instead of moaning lets start using it💪. Get those sightings in and make a difference. Please like and share this too as we need to get the word out there.
hydroscape-group.co.uk/
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