River Ribble Carp_ The Big Common Tribute

The big common carp weighing almost 30 lb was spotted up on the surface and I tried my best to reach her, only to find she had suffered a horrific otter attack.

[@rogercude1459]

Most anglers dont realise the Environment Agency Dont Want Carp in their Waters (rivers drains) so they are quite happy for the Otters to wipe them out! The other fish they do a little restocking from time to time to feed the Otter! A Sad situation but its only going to get worse as they breed and spread everywhere 😞

[@oldgreg1]

Really sad to see, poor thing! Alot of people have no idea what an impact the otters have had and are having on fish, low level nesting birds, swans, geese , ducks, small mammal populations! My last job I looked after a certain chalk stream for 4 years and what I found dayly- weekly at points was heartbreaking as a lover of the wildlife and an angler.

[@pnegeoff5385]

It's heartbreaking seeing the demise of fish stocks on the Ribble because of otters.

[@PikerBiker]

I will never forget what happened in that swim mate. Very sad end to a magnificent fish.

[@karenlibby4951]

Incredible video 😊

[@baldvale5418]

Brings me to tears ; (

[@ETH85]

The mass otter release has been a massive mistake and has caused more damage than anything

[@bigchris80]

Bloody shame that. I would have took it out and put it out its misery. There use to be a massive head of these in there years back, obviously poaching and the otters played a big part of there demise. Nice video all the same Ian, see you soon matey!

[@PikerBiker]

Thanks nashy

[@whitetroutchannel]

im not even going to start ill just quote John Wilson and his opinion on otters "giant rats"

[@PikerBiker]

I miss that man!

[@HEROxGUN1]

R.i.p 😢

[@elliottlock9555]

😞

[@robertearl2262]

otters are be coming to much

[@PikerBiker]

Thanks rob

[@clivelogsdon1492]

Hate seeing this, what a shame

[@PikerBiker]

It is heartbreaking buddy

[@lukeframpton3671]

Sole destroying

[@PikerBiker]

It is Luke, very sad mate

[@louiseanderson1505]

Poor fish 😢 What could have caused that I wonder? Robins are my favourite birds. 🥰

[@korzer]

Otters

[@numbnutz7832]

Otters. But from a carpers view, its nature. If you ain’t with nature, you ain’t an angler. 😂

[@ottercarpUK]

Whilst this is a sad video to watch, all it does is get the know nothings commenting on something they have not got a clue on. Facts 1. It's nature 2. It's the otters natural habitat that the carp has entered. 3. The carp should not be there. For all you commenter's saying, otter have been released, and otters are being bred, and all the other unfounded comments regarding Otters. Fact 1: There has not been an otter captive bred in the UK and then released, since 1999. 2: The number released was 147 in total. 3: Average life span of an otter in the wild, is 5 years. 4: With high mortality rates and short breeding period it averages out at 2 cubs in the lifetime of (5yrs) a female. So all comments regarding reintroductions and breeding of otters are wrong. Rehabilitated otters are re-released to the wild after their period of a year in rehab. These are generally released to the area found, so not actually increasing numbers. UKWOT are the biggest centre in the UK, and 2023 saw 19 returned to the wild. So again, not massive numbers. If you was aware of the time dedication and cost of raising a cub, you would perhaps understand, that, it is not possible to breed, raise and then release otters. Their is also no need to add to the reastiblishing numbers, and this is why the release program ended in 1999. The annual cost to breed and release 100 otters would be in the region of £500k, so I doubt that anyone would undertake such a program, when it's not required. And there is no financial gain. Would a fish farm breed 30lb carp and release them free of charge? Obviously not. What now needs resolving is the very poor water quality in our rivers, that is the biggest threat to fish survival rates.

[@PikerBiker]

Every opinion matters on my channel, even the not so popular ones. Thanks for the in depth comment mate