Duel over species protection

The fight against otters is now getting tougher

The table is far too full for otters at fish ponds. The office of Provincial Councillor for Animal Protection Rosenkranz intervened in the conflict.(Bild: Gabriele Moser)

Following the "Krone" report about a desperate fish farmer from the district of Krems, the tide is rising. While he is receiving support from a well-known water expert, the office of the provincial animal welfare councillor is also getting in touch, reacting to the breeder's attitude with great astonishment.

Fish farmer Thomas Muschl, who lives near Großreinprechts in the district of Krems, sees himself threatened with extinction by otters and co. The "Krone" report about this also reached the office of animal welfare councillor Susanne Rosenkranz - the matter was investigated: "Muschl has not taken advantage of any advice or preventative measures with regard to beavers or otters. He also never applied for a culling subsidy." It is strange that Muschl would have to fear for his existence.

Furthermore, the pond could have been partially fenced in, but here too there had been no contact with the funding agency.

More than 1000 otters in Lower Austria
Last year, there were reportedly 1085 otters in Lower Austria - around a third of them in the Alpine region. Rosenkranz makes it clear that the animals are not unconditionally protected: This is because a maximum of 50 animals may be taken per year. Mink, grey heron and cormorant would also fall under the jurisdiction of hunters and there would also be clear harvesting regulations.

Water ecologist emphasizes the extinction of fish
On the other hand, support comes - not only for the otter-plagued Muschl, but also for all other fish keepers in the country - from the experienced water ecologist Helmut Belanyecz, who has his fishing roots in Fischamend: "Predators are increasing to such an extent that brown trout and grayling have already died out over large stretches of river in the Alpine foothills. Official measures to reduce the populations of these predators are completely inadequate to save the salmonids."