Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo

I like Cormorants! There, I've said it! They are brilliant at fishing and this brings them in to conflict with anglers. As someone who has fished, I can understand the hatred by fishermen, but, you know what, Cormorants were here first and I enjoy watching them fish. In my conversations with anglers I have discovered that no amount of reasoning could ever convince them that they should tolerate Cormorants. In the same way that anglers want to kill Cormorants,  Otter are also on their list. Even though Otters were re-introduced in small numbers to Kent where they apparently still didn't flourish, there is a perception amongst anglers that Devon Otters are not here naturally and they should be culled...... that means killed of course.......I would hope that everyone would hold their hands up in horror if that were to ever even be considered. So here is something to think about, we are about to start killing Badgers, you can get a license to kill Cormorants already, pigeon fanciers shoot Peregrine falcons and gamekeepers are quite happy to poison buzzards, Goshawks and Harriers. Cormorant culls?..... Just the thin edge of a sad wedge that is already out of hand.