Fisheries: Birds of Prey
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of fish-eating birds on inland fish populations; how predation by fish-eating birds is considered alongside other factors affecting the health and abundance of fish populations in rivers; and whether she plans to review licensing and management arrangements relating to population control for fish-eating birds.
Answered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Defra, the Environment Agency and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science assessed the range of pressures affecting English Atlantic salmon stocks in 2025. This considered predation by fish-eating birds, seals and other fish alongside wider pressures such as climate change, water quality and habitat degradation. We are now prioritising actions relating to water quantity and habitats which should make fish stocks more resilient against predation.
Under current legislation and Defra policy, Natural England issue licences to take action where cormorant predation is impacting fisheries, balanced with the latest information on cormorant populations to ensure that action is sustainable. Licensed control of cormorants continues to be appraised and revised by Natural England so it is proportionate and meets fishery protection needs.
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