River Severn fish stocks at an all-time low

Shrewsbury's River Severn is in "crisis" with fish stocks at an all-time low, a Shropshire angling chief warned today and he blamed protected species for the problem.

John Roberts, chairman and head bailiff for Shropshire Anglers' Federation, said young fish and adult fish were being eaten at an alarming rate by birds, including cormorants and geese.

And he claimed a rise in the otter population was also to blame.

The river chief is now calling on the Government to authorise a bird cull in order to let fish stocks replenish.

He said: "On the river near the West Mid Showground you have got about 80-odd goose gander and at Pimley Manor in Sundorne there is a bunch of about 40 or 50 of them.

"They get together for one period and then split off."

Mr Roberts said the amount of birds feeding off the river was having a devastating impact and claimed if something was not done soon about the situation it could see anglers leaving some of the county's watercourses completely.

"We have just resurrected a competition in conjunction with Total Angling in Battlefield with five Saturday events.

"We have still got three to go but seven or eight years ago it was nothing to see the winner take about 80kg (176lbs) of fish for first place.

"In our latest competition the winner only had 7lbs 12 ounces (3.18kg) worth.

"It's a total crisis, the river is in crisis. There is so much money tied up in this river and the biggest concern is clubs could turn their back on the river and then we have lost the management of it."

Mr Roberts said he would be lobbying Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski over the issue.