Stream, Smoult and Eddie: trio of orphaned otters return to the wild

Rescued cubs had spent nine months in care at National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire

Press Association

Wednesday 25 October 2017 14.25 BSTLast modified on Wednesday 25 October 2017 14.49 BST

Three orphaned otters have been released into the wild after more than nine months in care.

Stream, Smoult and Eddie were taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, when they were cubs aged between eight and 10 weeks old.

After months of rehabilitation, the Scottish SPCA has set the trio free in a freshwater loch at a secret location in the Highlands.

The centre’s manager, Colin Seddon, said: “There are many factors that need to be met before we can release otters back into the wild – the weather, site location, otter population in the area and land owners’ permission. All of these must be in place to ensure the best chance of survival.

“With help from the Woodland Trust we were able to access the remote release site in the Highlands in order to successfully release the otters. Without their help we would not have been able to access this site.”

Support feeding and shelter have been provided for the trio and they will be monitored using camera traps to get feedback about how well they are doing.

Read on  

Britain's biggest barbel fish, the Big Lady, killed by otter

Anglers want to banish otters amid depleting fish stocks after 20lb barbel dragged out of River Ivel in Bedfordshire and has its throat torn out

By Agency

10:44AM BST 30 Jul 2015

Britain's biggest barbel fish has been killed by an otter, sparking renewed calls by the angling community for a clampdown on the aquatic animals that are now thriving in the countryside.

The large freshwater fish, nicknamed the Big Lady and which was hugely popular with anglers, was seen to be dragged out of a river by a marauding otter that then tore its throat out and partially ate it.

The record specimen weighed more than 20lbs and was believed to be the largest living barbel in UK waters. Six more large coarse fish from the same river, the Ivel in Bedfordshire, have also fallen victim to otter predation in the last three months.

Otters are enjoying a comeback after they were re-introduced into British waterways by conservationists in the 1980s after once being on the brink of extinction.

Despite their fluffy appearance and association with Henry Williamson's much-loved children's book, Tarka the Otter, the marine animals are carnivourous and ferocious hunters.

Critics say the conservation scheme was ill-thought out as there is not enough food in our waterways to sustain their booming numbers. As a result, otters - which have no natural predator - are said to have been picking off expensive, cumbersome fish like carp and barbel from fisheries and putting businesses in jeopardy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11772358/Britains-biggest-barbel-fish-the-Big-Lady-killed-by-otter.html

Otters around the world are threatened with extinction says new report

The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) has become increasingly concerned about the decline of many species of otter in different countries with many little or no government conservation support.

As recently as 2012, the Japanese Otter was officially declared extinct, and of the 13 species across the world, nine are declining in numbers.

In the IUCN Red List, five species are classed as Endangered and two as Vulnerable, meaning that they are facing a high or very high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Eurasian otter, the only species which we have in the UK, is overall classed as Near Threatened, despite recent rises in UK populations, but in Asia it is believed to be critically endangered.

Continued ...

Fishing with Otters in Bangladesh – A Dying Tradition

By Sumitra on March 26th, 2014 Category: Animals

Otter Fishing has been a long-standing tradition in Bangladesh. For centuries, fishermen have been using trained otters to lure fish into their nets – a unique technique passed on from father to son that has long died out in other parts of Asia. Bangladeshi fishermen have managed to keep it alive so far, but the future of otter fishing seems uncertain due to the dwindling population of fish in the country’s rivers.

As a part of the tradition, fishermen lower their nets into the water close to the banks of the river. As they do this, their pet otters also dive tails up into the water with a splash. The animals do not catch the fish themselves, but chase them towards the fishing nets for the fishermen to haul in. Otter fishing is generally practiced during the night, with some fisherman throwing their nets until dawn trying to catch enough fish to support their families. Their hard work yields anywhere between 4 and 12 kilos of fish and shrimp every night.

A fishing family makes about $250 a month with the modest catch. “Our job depends on the otters,” said Shashudhar Biswas, a fisherman from Narail district in southern Bangladesh. “The otters manage to spot fish among the plants, then the fish swim away and we stay close with our nets. If we did it without them, we wouldn’t be able to catch as many fish,” his son Vipul added.

But the fish, in recent years, have become very scarce and are hard to catch. “The kinds of fish we used to find with our father, we don’t see them anymore,” said Vipul, who is in his 20s. According to Mohammad Mustafa Feeroz, a professor of zoology at Dhaka’s Jahangirnagar University, the natural fish populations have reduced drastically because they are simply unable to breed. “Over-sedimentation, water pollution from oil and the use of pesticides in paddy fields, as well as over catching are all having an impact,” he said. Feeroz has been studying otter fishing in Bangladesh for the past 25 years. Over the years, he has witnessed a steady decline in the number of fishing families – from 500 to just 150. “Go back 50 years and the practice has declined by about 90 percent,” he said.

Fishermen are also finding it difficult to get enough otters from the wild, to train. “Previously, we used to get plenty of fish in the river,” said Shushendu Shikder, an otter fisherman. “We were able to take care of our family and these otters. But nowadays, even if we keep fishing for the whole night, we are not getting enough. We used to have 15 or 20 otters in every family. Now, we have only three or four otters because we cannot maintain them, feed them.” Unfortunately, these fishermen do not know how to catch fish without the help of otters.

Continued

100 years ago: The killer otter's fondness for frogs

Much as we hate to hear of the slaughter of any wild creature, we must make allowance for the Clitheroe farmer who, as reported to-day, killed one in his farmyard. He was protecting his stock from the attacks of a large and rapacious carnivorous animal. It is a mistake to think of the otter as a fish-eater only; it will kill and devour any mammal or bird which is not too large or powerful, and it has a fondness for frogs. I have personally come across instances of local otters eating rabbits and wild ducks and one case of an otter attempting to raid a farmyard. This last was an otter which was killed in Dunham, and the animal had probably come from the Bollin and crossed two high park walls to reach the poultry it longed for. Yesterday I heard a curious otter story. The otter in question had been captured young and kept as a pet; it was quite tame and ran about the house. A too kindly friend of its owner thought that the otter must require water, and in its master's absence gave it a swim in the cistern. Unfortunately it was left there a little too long, and was drowned! Probably a fish diet as well as the aquatic habit is acquired by each generation of otters.

Read on ...

Drivers warned not to run over Aberdyfi otters

Two otters have become so used to people at a Gwynedd village that drivers have been warned they risk running them over.

The otters have drawn onlookers for weeks at Aberdyfi where they have fished, fed and played on the beach.

Zoologist Dr Elizabeth Andrews said she is amazed to see the normally shy and secretive animals being so brazen.

But the council warned the otters are wild and should not be approached and drivers should also look out for them.

Continued

Orphaned otter cubs found at Thurso beach

The young otter cubs have been named Thurso and Surf

Two orphaned otter cubs are being cared for by the Scottish SPCA after being found in distress at Thurso beach in Caithness.

The 10-week-old males were spotted by a member of the public.

They were scared off by two dogs and were eventually found hiding under a wheelie bin in a nearby garden.

Scottish SPCA senior inspector Audrey Gunn managed to trap the pair. They are receiving care at the charity's rescue centre in Clackmannanshire.

Continued

Should otters be controlled to protect fish stocks?

29 September 2013 Last updated at 16:16 BST

During the 1970s the survival of otters was threatened by a loss of habitats and they were rare in most parts of Britain.

But this native species was brought back from the brink of extinction and numbers have recovered largely as a result of conservation work and improved water quality.

There are now thought to be otters in every county in England.

Some believe their recovery has been so successful that there are too many otters and native fish are under threat.

Angler John Wilson thinks there is a need for more controls on otters in rivers across some areas including Norfolk, but not everyone agrees.

David Whiteley looks to the argument for controlling otter numbers in rivers where fish stocks are threatened.

Inside Out is broadcast on Monday, 30 September on BBC One East at 19:30 BST and nationwide thereafter on the iPlayer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24231925

Millennium Coastal Park: Toad deaths blamed on otters (UK) - via Herp Digest

3/22/13, BBC, New South Wales, An investigation into the deaths of hundreds of toads along the Millennium Coastal Park in Carmarthenshire has been traced to a family of otters.

Environment Agency officials were called in after body parts of toads were found around ponds in the park which runs from Llanelli to Burry Port.

Wildlife experts have ruled out poisoning, the weather and water temperature, instead blaming otters.

Park rangers have found otter droppings and bite marks on the toad remains.

And now a Carmarthenshire Wildlife Watch member has captured images of the animals.

It is not the first time the cute but rapacious carnivores have proved controversial this year.

Last month a Gwynedd fish farmer sued the Environment Agency for £2m claiming that otters had eaten his entire stock of carp. The High Court threw out the case.

Otter attacks leave villagers tottering between fear, panic

Otter attacks have left a village shivering in fear. People refuse to step into Mulavur canal in Payipra panchayat near Muvattupuzha where a few bathers were reportedly bitten by the carnivores.

Around 50 persons were bitten during the last six months, said a resident of the area. Four persons received animal bites the other day, spreading panic in the area. In another incident, the animals bit off the heel of a lady who stepped into the canal, he said. It is in the five-kilometre-long reach of the canal that runs into Muvattupuzha River the presence of the animal, which is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, is reported. People are scared to step into the canal fearing animal attacks, he said.

K.R. Anoop, Divisional Forest Officer of the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, who had surveyed the animals in the South Western Ghats, said that the animals will not attack humans as a prey.

The dormant males, staying away from the groups, would have bitten the bathers. The animals move in groups and feed mostly on fishes. They also feed on hare, aquatic birds and snakes. There were earlier reports from Kadalundi in Kozhikode where a group attacked and killed a dog, he said.

Smooth Coated Otters are the ones mostly found in the Kerala waters. The presence of Common Otter, which was first recorded in 1937, has not been reported since then. Small Clawed Otter’s presence has been reported from the High Ranges of the State.

The aquatic mammal breeds in land and feeds in water. The animals may resist predators as a group, said Mr. Anoop who had also studied the animal’s presence in the Periyar Tiger reserve.

One fisherman died in Chalakudi River three years ago following the carnivores’ attack.

P.S. Easa, a wildlife expert with the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur, said stray incidents of the animals’ attacks have been reported earlier.

The animals come in conflict with fishermen when they try to catch fish from the fishing nets. The animals themselves may get entangled in the net in the process, he said. K.P. Shaji, Range Officer, Kothamangalam Forest Range, who investigated the incidents, said that the practice of dumping waste from slaughter houses and poultry farms might have attracted the animals.

As the animals, enlisted under the Wildlife Protection Act, enjoy legal protection, the Forest department is concerned about its safety.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/otter-attacks-leave-villagers-tottering-between-fear-panic/article4498174.ece

Chemicals linked to problems with otters' penis bones

By Michelle WarwickerBBC Nature

Otters' reproductive organs may be affected by chemicals in our waterways, according to scientists.

Experts studying the reproductive health of the mammals in England and Wales were concerned to find a decrease in the weight of otters' penis bones.

Other health problems in males included an increase in undescended testicles and cysts on sperm-carrying tubes.

Experts suggest that, based on previous research, the changes could be linked to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

The study, funded by the Environment Agency, was co-authored by the Chemicals, Health and Environment (CHEM) Trust and the Cardiff University Otter Project, and features on BBC One series Countryfile.

"We were surprised to see the reduction in the baculum weight," said co-author Dr Elizabeth Chadwick, project manager at the Cardiff University Otter Project, referring to the bone found in males' penises.

"[It's] certainly something that needs further investigation."

Read on

Eleven live otters found in airport luggage in Bangkok

Otters in trouble in Asia

January 2013. Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport has seen countless traffickers attempt to smuggle a myriad wild animals out in luggage, but never otters-until now. Officers at the airport's Wildlife Checkpoint and the Royal Thai Customs discovered 11 live otters when they scanned a bag that had been left at the oversized luggage area of the airport.

As the bag bore no tags and no one claimed it, the officers opened the luggage to find six Smooth Coated Otters and five Oriental Small Clawed Otters inside. The otters, which look to be juveniles, will undergo health checks before being handed over to the Bang-Pra Breeding Center in Chonburi for care.

Otters disappearing from their range
Otters and some species of wild cats are at serious risk in South-East Asia, experts said in 2009 after analysing thousands of camera-trap records that helped map the regional distribution of many small carnivore species. Some, like otters, have apparently disappeared from parts of their former range.

The experts, including members of the IUCN-SSC Cat Specialist, Otter Specialist and Small Carnivore Specialist Groups had pushed for more research on small carnivores like otters that play an important ecological role in tropical forests but receive relatively little conservation attention. They also called on Thailand to develop a national action plan to ensure greater protection for small carnivores.

"This find is a surprise and a worrying one. Otter skins have been interdicted in trade elsewhere in Asia, but live otters are a new development as far as we know. Yet another species we know little about is in danger from wildlife traffickers," said TRAFFIC's Regional Director in South-East Asia, Dr William Schaedla.

"It is great to see that frontline officers in Thailand are maintaining vigilance. However there must be more intelligence led investigations that will arrest the problem at source," he added.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bangkok-otters.html

Fishery owner suing Environment Agency after otters put him out of business

Brian Dodson claims the government body created an otter haven on a nearby river and failed to inform him of the potential problems the furry mammals could cause.

After stocking six lakes at his new business with thousands of carp at a cost of £250,000, the protected otters sought out his fishery as a rich food source.

Over a period of years his valuable fish were decimated by the carnivorous creatures, ruining his business before it had got off the ground, the 60-year-old claims.

Mr Dodson said that had the Environment Agency told him of the probability of otters re-colonising the nearby river he could have taken protective steps, like erecting protective fencing.

He is now suing the agency for breaching the Environment Act 1995, claiming the agency had a duty of care to consult local landowners when planning the otter initiative.

He is seeking £2.5 million to cover the loss of income he believes he would have recouped from anglers using his fishery.

The matter will go before the High Court next month in what could become a landmark case for fishery owners across the country who have had similar issues with otters.

The creatures were on the brink of extinction 30 years ago until wildlife enthusiasts launched a massive programme to re-introduce them to the wild.

Since then they have returned to nearly every corner of Britain.

But critics say the scheme has been ill thought as there is not enough food in our waterways to sustain their booming numbers.

As a result otters - which have no natural predator - are said to have been picking off big and cumbersome fish from fisheries and putting them in jeopardy.

Mr Dodson's Waen Wen Fishery, near Bangor, in North Wales, has lain empty and out of use for several years now. He has been unable to sell it and it has now been taken off him by his mortage company.

Read on:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9808555/Fishery-owner-suing-Environment-Agency-after-otters-put-him-out-of-business.html

Two orphan otters from Cumbria being raised on Skye

December 2012. Two otter cubs, named Bubble and Squeak, were found abandoned in Cumbria. Initially they were left to see if Mum would come back but the next morning they were found crying and covered in frost. They were taken first to the Aquarium of the Lakes in Windermere where they were cared for until they were strong enough for their journey to their new home on Skye.

Grace Yoxon, Director of IOSF, said "Bubble and Squeak are such gorgeous wee otters and it is so funny to watch them as they climb all over each other to reach the fish! It is always better to bring up two cubs together as they get the otter company they need and one will learn from the other.

Release back in Cumbria
At the moment they are in an indoor cub unit but when they are bigger they will move to outdoor pens. They will stay on Skye until they are about 12-15 months as this is the normal age at which cubs will leave their mothers. They will then return to Cumbria for release. It is really important that we keep human contact to a minimum as if they become tame we cannot release them back to the wild where they belong."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/cumbria-otters.html

Illegal eel trap drowns protected otter

The Environment Agency is urging anglers to report illegal fishing activity after an otter died in an illegally set trap to capture eels.

A net with the dead otter inside was found this week three miles from the centre of Boston in Stonebridge Drain.

Not only did the net omit a guard to prevent otters entering it and becoming trapped, it also appeared during close season for eel fishing, which runs until 1 April 2012.

Phil Smith, Environment Agency Biodiversity Officer, said: “The police have been informed of this illegal fishing activity and if investigations lead to finding who set the net, a prosecution will follow. “

“The eel population is declining so it is vital that  eel netsman  respect the close season to ensure that fishing practices are sustainable. In this instance, an otter, a protected species, has also suffered as a result of the illegal activity.”

Illegal netting, trapping and fish theft impacts on fish stocks and poses a risk to the environment. By contacting the free 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60,  people can provide the Environment Agency with critical information to help tackle illegal fishing. 

Eel nets have to be licensed by the Environment Agency in a similar way that anglers need to license their fishing rods. They should have a numbered tag to allow identification and have to be fitted with a guard to prevent otters entering them. The season for trapping eels is between the 1 April and 10 December in any year.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/137553.aspx?month=3&year=2012

Otter found in Fort William seafood restaurant

A young otter is being looked after by an animal welfare charity after being found inside a seafood restaurant in Fort William.

The 10-week-old female along with a 12-week-old male found hiding under a post office counter in nearby Caol a few days earlier could be orphans.

The Scottish SPCA (SSPCA) said the pair were not thought to be siblings.

They are being cared for at the charity's Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fife until they can be released.

The male, who has been named Roy, was found in Caol on 16 February.

On 20 February, the SSPCA were called to a seafood restaurant in Fort William to rescue the female. She has been called Linnhe.

Rescue centre manager Colin Seddon said it was unusual for otters to wander into a public place.

He said: "Roy and Linnhe have probably come from a water course nearby, possibly Loch Linnhe.

"Because of their difference in age we know they can't be siblings but they have obviously both come from the local area.

"It's likely that their mothers have possibly been killed or frightened off and, because the cubs' eyesight is very poor at such a young age, they have been unable to find them again."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-17194991

Otter poo reveals surprising facts about otter's diet - Includes birds and mice

Finding remains of eels, fish, crabs and even birds

February 2012: A group of volunteers rolled up their sleeves to find out more about what otters eat in North Wales  – at a special workshop earlier this month.

In the workshop, organised by the Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE) project at Treborth Botanic Gardens, more than 40 volunteers dissected otter droppings, know as spraints, to see what they could find. The remains of eels, marine and freshwater fish, crabs, amphibians and even birds and mice were all among their discoveries – more than 23 different prey species in total. 

The spraints were collected by volunteers last year, along the North Wales coast and in Waterford, Ireland. Mammal ecologist Rob Strachan helped the volunteers identify fish bones, jaws and even mammal teeth as they picked the spraints apart. 

This gives valuable information about behaviourThe MISE project is part of an EU Interreg funded project involving the Countryside Council for Wales and The Vincent Wildlife Trust to find out more about mammals and what they need to thrive in a sustainable environment.

Ceri Morris, CCW Project Officer and workshop organiser said: ‘Analysing the otter's diet can yield valuable information not only about what they eat, but where they feed and how far they roam. We found evidence of crabs in a number of the spraints, which are generally thought of as a favourite food for young otters –so this could be evidence of breeding sites near our coasts.  

Read on:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/otter-diet.html

Kent sightings confirm otters recently found every county in England

Otters are back - and coming to a river near you! August 2011. The sighting of two otters in Kent has delighted conservationists, who once feared that the iconic mammal could be lost from England's waterways forever.

Kent the last county
A country-wide wildlife survey published by the Environment Agency last year found that otters, which almost disappeared from England in the 1970s due to the toxic effects of pesticides, were recovering well and had been found in every English county except Kent. Now wildlife experts at the Environment Agency have confirmed that there are at least two otters in Kent, which have built their holts on the river Medway and the river Eden. The two sightings have delighted conservationists, who previously predicted that otters may not be resident in the county for another ten years.

Otters, which were nearly extinct in the 1970's, have recovered thanks to a ban on harmful pesticides and legal protection given to otters, making it an offence to intentionally kill or harm the animal. They have also been helped by a significant improvement in water quality over the past 20 years, bringing fish back to rivers that were once grossly polluted.

Otters are at the top of the food chain, and are therefore an important indicator of the health of rivers.

Rivers the healthiest for 20 years
The Environment Agency's National Conservation Manager, Alastair Driver said: "The recovery of otters from near-extinction shows how far we've come in controlling pollution and improving water quality. Rivers in England are the healthiest for over 20 years, and otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning to many rivers for the first time since the industrial revolution.

"The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England and is a symbol of great success for everybody involved in otter conservation. It is also a fantastic reward for all of the Environment Agency's efforts in improving the water quality and ecology of England's rivers.

Lancashire - 44% increase
Otters continue to recover in other parts of the UK too, with a recent survey on the river Ribble in Lancashire showing a 44 per cent increase in the numbers of otters since 2008. The River Ribble is one of 10 rivers taking part in a pilot project which aims to get wildlife organisations, farmers, businesses and the local community to take co-ordinated action to further improve the health of UK rivers.

River habitats have also benefited from reductions in the volume of water taken by water companies, farmers and industry. The Environment Agency is reviewing abstraction licences and amending those that are causing environmental damage. For example, around 35 million fewer litres a day are now being taken from the River Darent in Kent than 20 years ago, increasing river flows and helping to support larger populations of wildlife including brown trout and pike.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/kent-otters.html#cr

Otter causes chaos in Tulla in County Clare

19 April 2011

An unlikely water-dweller has been making waves in a County Clare town.

A wayward otter turned on its would-be rescuers in Tulla on Monday as it was found wandering up the town's main street.

Farmer Joe Burke and shop owner Mike Hogan first noticed the animal as it passed by on the footpath outside Mr Hogan's window.

Concerned for its safety, they decided to come to its aid. However, the otter clearly had other ideas.

As a large crowd gathered, the otter became "very aggressive" and started trying to bite people.

Mr Burke was rewarded for his efforts with a nasty cut.

Tayto crisps

Eventually, the two men managed to corner the ungrateful creature in a courtyard. They planned to wait for professionals to come and take it to safety.

However, as Mr Burke explained: "He then put his head into a Tayto bag. It was wrapped tightly around his head.

"He couldn't see where he was going, he was bumping into walls and everything."

Fearing for the otter's life, Mr Burke decided to take on the rescue himself.

He took a thick bag used for holding animal feed, and after a minor struggle, managed to capture the animal.

The two men loaded their charge into the back of Mr Burke's jeep, and made their way to a local lake with the intention of releasing the otter back into its natural habitat.

But again the otter was refusing to go quietly.

"He chewed his way out of the bag," said Mr Hogan. "The back window was missing on the jeep so he jumped out when we stopped."

Traffic cone

The resourceful animal then made a dash for freedom half a mile back towards Tulla, before Mr Burke was able to catch it under a traffic cone.

The men slid a piece of plywood under the cone and carried it back to the lake, where they let the otter back into the water.

However, again the drama continued. The animal was so exhausted from its efforts that it began to sink.

"We pulled him towards the reeds and sort of propped him up," said Mr Hogan.

"After 10 or 15 minutes he got his breath back again and swam off."

A dramatic day indeed. The residents of Tulla may never see an otter one like it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13126139

Spelman pledges £110m to revive unhealthy waterways

13 April 2011

Otters and salmon will benefit from a £110m boost in spending on England's lakes, rivers and streams, the government has said.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said the funds would revive "lifeless" bodies of water, allowing wildlife to flourish by tackling invasive weeds.

She also said that ministers wanted people to become more involved in caring for local waterways and streams.

Ralph Underhill, of campaign group Our Rivers, welcomed the announcement.

£92m will be provided over the next four years to combat non-native invasive weeds and clear up pollution.

Redundant dams, weirs and landings in England will also be removed.

The funding will be shared between the Environment Agency, Natural England and charities such as the Association of Rivers Trust.

This boost is earmarked for England alone because funding for waterways is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

An additional £18m will be provided this year to help farmers protect water courses near agricultural land, the government added.

Grass roots

Announcing the move, Mrs Spelman said: "The health of our rivers has come along in leaps and bounds, but we still see nasty invasive weeds and lifeless waters blight blue spaces in cities and across our countryside.

"With this funding, we'll help all our waterways and streams thrive by tackling problems that until now have been sitting in the 'too-hard' basket.

"Our new grass-roots approach to boosting healthier waterways and flourishing wildlife has local experience and knowledge at its heart."

Mr Underhill warned that the funding would not "solve all the problems overnight".

But he hailed the announcement as "fantastic news for our rivers and the wildlife they support".

"Rivers are a national asset and in the current financial climate it is great to see a new investment being made in their future," he added.

Conservation charity WWF-UK said it was delighted by the government's extra funding.

Tom Le Quesne, freshwater policy manager, said: "We recently withdrew legal action against the government which was originally taken because the previous government's 2009 plans for implementation of the Water Framework Directive did not deliver for rivers.

"We hope this funding shows the beginning of a long-term drive to improve the quality of our rivers and helping wildlife thrive."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13053394
(Via Dawn Holloway)