Fish population in danger

The otter is now caught between the fronts

The otter is a very good hunter: the animals eat up to one and a half kilos of fish per day(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Last year, a new regulation in Styria that allows the killing of strictly protected otters caused a stir. Studies now show that the measure has no positive impact on fish stocks in flowing waters - yet the lobby is insisting on an extension of the regulation.

Killing otters does not lead to any measurable recovery of fish stocks in flowing waters: This was the conclusion of a study commissioned by the province of Upper Austria. Over a period of three years, a total of 52 otters were taken from four different river sections. Conclusion: No improvement in fish stocks could be measured in any of the sections studied. In two of the monitoring areas, decreases were even recorded.