Cotter return: joy or danger to the fish breeders?

Cotter return: joy or danger to the fish breeders?

Stuttgart, Deutschland - The return of the otter in Baden-Württemberg causes excitement! After almost a century of absence, these charming but voracious predators have settled again in the region. Officially believed as extinct, the first sightings have been documented since 2017, especially on the rivers Tauber, Jagst, Dreisam, Elz and Danube. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment has now confirmed that the oters are active again, and despite their dreaded preference for fish, crabs and frogs-they destroy up to 15 percent of their body weight every day!

FDP calls for measures against the Otter

The FDP parliamentary group sees the return of otter as a success for species protection, but warns of possible conflicts with fish breeders. Klaus Hoher, the nature conservation spokesman, calls for a counseling center for affected Angelfischer and the opportunity to shoot the animals in exceptional cases if there are serious problems. These concerns also share the professional fishermen and pond hosts who already warn in interviews of a possible threat to their existence.

Although the oters have not yet caused any significant damage, the experts fear that the population could spread quickly. However, the Ministry of the Environment is not planning any measures against the animals for the time being, since there are still no significant damage. In Bavaria, where the Otter also occurs, they are protected more strictly, but in certain cases there can be shot on them to secure fish farming. The discussion about the otter remains exciting and could gain intensity in the coming months.