Otter Biodiversity Action Plan

It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Sections 9.1 and 9.4, schedule 5) to kill, injure or take an otter from the wild without a licence; to damage or obstruct a holt; or disturb an otter in its resting place. Licences are required for checking holts of for carrying out work that may disturb otters, such as management of trees that are known to be used as resting sites. English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales are responsible for issuing these licences in England and Wales.

The otter is listed in the Bern Convention and the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). It requires special protection measures under the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Its listing in Annex 2 requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for site supporting important otter populations.

The problems faced include pollution (PCBs etc), poor water quality, mortality and poor riverside habitat. To tackle this national surveys are conducted every 5-7 years and research on the effects of pollution in aquatic ecosystems has been commissioned. Also habitat improvements (such as holts) are being implemented along with DEFRA’s Habitat Scheme Water Fringe Option being piloted to create and manage otter set-aside areas. Two SACs (Special Areas for Conservation) are under consideration and sensitive woodland management is being encouraged near watercourses.

The target of the action plan is to increase otter populations and restore breeding otters to all river catchments that were used since 1960.

This is to be achieved by creating a Framework for Otter Conservation, reviewing current legislation, clarifying issues with traps and determining water quality objectives. Also to review otter re-introductions and its impacts and create Catchment Management Plans with attention to havens and wooded habitats. Where necessary improvements to structures such as bridges should be implemented.

For analysis, data collation of prey populations and pollution bio-accumulation in otters. Also investigate population modeling and effects of disturbance on otters, as well as compiling a national otter population database.

Being a prominent species this plan can be used to highlight BAPs and the problems faced by other species of riparian habitat.