Written question WQ84456
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 3 days
Question
What steps have been taken to monitor the otter population in the Conwy River during the last three financial years?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
The Conwy catchment was surveyed in 2018/19 as part of the Otter Survey of Wales which is undertaken at 7 year intervals. The survey and published report was jointly coordinated by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Cardiff University. https://cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/media/694539/osw-6th-report-final.pdf
In response to the decline observed, a repeat survey of the Conwy catchment was undertaken in 2021. The results were comparable to the 2018/19 survey.
A similar decline has been noted within a number of catchments across Wales and a working group of otter experts has been established by NRW to explore possible reasons and resolutions.