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Scottish beaver research – More waste?

26/05/2010 15:37:41 uk/uk_wildlife/Beaver_tag_rzss

SNH publishes new report on beavers and fish

May 2010. The most thorough review ever undertaken on the effects of beavers on freshwater fish has been published.

The study, carried out by the University of Southampton on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), presents updated information on how beavers and fish interact, based on international experience. It also examines issues highlighted by those both for and against the reintroduction of the beaver.

Beavers to be released in Devon - Cost £95,000

Beavers to be released in Devon

It is based on an analysis of the scientific literature and a survey of 45 fishery managers and scientists, and beaver ecology experts, mainly in North America where most of the research has been carried out. The report discusses the implications of this work for the European beaver in Scotland.

Beavers are good and bad for fish
In the review of the scientific literature, beaver activity was found to have both positive and negative effects on fish.

negative effects

Negative effects include those of beaver dams, which can act as a barrier to the movement of some fish in narrower rivers and streams. Localised siltation and the loss of spawning habitat immediately upstream of dams were also reported. These effects can change over time, and the influence on fish populations remains unclear.

positive effects

Beavers can also have positive effects on fish. These include an increase in the variety of habitats in streams and a greater area for the rearing and overwintering of fish. An increase in invertebrates such as insects, which fish feed on, is reported. Beaver activity may also help to provide refuge during periods of high or low water flows.

Overall the positive effects were cited more frequently (157 times) than the negative effects (102 times).

In the independent expert opinion survey, the responses to more than half of the questions (58%) suggested that the impact of beavers on fish was positive, with 21% negative and the remainder neutral.

The Beaver-Salmonid Working Group

The new Beaver-Salmonid Working Group is chaired by Professor Roger Wheater. The membership of the group comprises Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, Marine Scotland, National Museums of Scotland, Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage. Its terms of reference are:

To arrange for further, ongoing review of new beaver - salmonid information from Eurasia and North America;
To examine the availability of potential beaver habitat that overlaps some Scottish salmonid catchments;
To examine the issue of beaver presence on particular Scottish catchments and whole ecosystems, in relation to possible interactions with salmonid populations;
To examine the specific issue of possible beaver dam presence on Scottish rivers in relation to possible interaction with salmonid populations;
To examine potential management issues, methods and options in relation to beavers and salmonids;
To examine options for field based assessments of beaver and salmonid
interactions in Scotland.

Really necessary?
To Wildlife Extra, the Beaver-Salmonid working group sounds like the sort of thing that might feature on "Have I got news for you". It sounds like a working group too far to us.

Good outweighs the bad
The report concludes that the negative impact of beaver activity on the movement of fish and the availability of suitable spawning habitat can be at least off-set by the benefits. These include increased habitat diversity and the resulting increase in the abundance and productivity of fish, including salmon.

Dr Paul Kemp from the University of Southampton, who wrote the review with his colleagues Tom Worthington and Professor Terry Langford, carries out international research on freshwater fish ecology and fisheries management. He said: "As is often the case in ecology, interactions between beavers and fish can be complex, with both positive and negative impacts that can vary depending on time and place. Our approach was to undertake a comprehensive and systematic literature review combined with an independent expert opinion survey to quantify the ‘weight of evidence'. Based on our analysis, the overall benefits of beaver activity on fish appear to outweigh the costs in most cases."

Scottish beaver trial
The findings in the report will add to the information currently being collected from the Scottish Beaver Trial, a five year scientific trial in Argyll set up to study the effects of beavers on the Scottish environment. Although it isn't on a salmon river, the trial will produce useful field data on how beavers can affect river hydrology, river habitat, trout populations and other aspects of stream ecology. The report will also help inform future decisions on whether European beaver should be permanently reintroduced to Scotland.

Martin Gaywood, manager of the Species Action Framework for SNH said: "All in all this report provides an excellent basis for the ongoing study of beaver and fish issues. These will be considered further by a new beaver-salmonid working group, set up at the request of the Scottish Government."

Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment

Great to see beavers

But I don't think they should be reintroduced whatever the cost. Sea eagles, Great Bustards, Cranes, a7 Bumble bees have all been reintroduced for a fraction of the cost of the beavers. "No cost is too high" strikes me as an easy thing to say, but not based on reality.

However we can confirm that the above working group were all volunteers, to the actual cost of this extra research itself is minimal.

Posted by: Powell Ettinger | 28 May 2010 14:49:18

THE HARD YARDS

Beaver is an Annex II species under the EU Habitats Directive. Where beaver exist in the wild, EU countries are obliged to designate protected areas for them as Special Areas of Conservation. It is no simple job to effect the re-introduction of beaver in the UK like it is to release a few butterflies. Everyone will want their say on its impact and their potential viable future. Thus it was a maddeningly expensive process to get even to the point of the Scottish Government agreeing the release, as a variety of interest had to be considered. And it does not stop there since the complaints of threats to livelihood continue, especially from the salmon industry. Hence the new working group. Beaver is a test of our resolve to turn back the endless centuries long tide of repression and extirpation of native species for commercial expediancy. I suppose the otter was a prelude to this, and the beaver may be paving the way for lynx. I for one don't want us to continue to be the stinker of Europe in how we dominate over our natural world.

Posted by: | 28 May 2010 14:44:49

Good value

The UK is obliged to reintroduce species which historically occured in Britain as part of an EC agreeement. It puzzles me as to why Wildlife Extra seems to be opposed to this scheme for beavers yet rejoyces in Sea Eagles, Great Bustrards, Cranes and Short-haired Bumblebees coming back home. No cost is too high to restore species diversity, especially for beavers which will have beneficial flow on effects for other ecosystems, not to mention tourism. Look at the number of people who visit nesting Ospreys each year. The waste of money in Britain to prop up the ailing financial sector since the Global Financial Crisis began surely makes the price of this reintroduction pale into insignifigance. Lets hope lynx, bears and wolves don't get such a negative reception.

Posted by: | 28 May 2010 14:45:15

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