Overview

• The Landesfischereiverband Bayern accuses environmental groups from Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württemberg of blocking Bavaria’s otter removal rules through legal action.
• Bavaria permits otter culling in specific districts under exceptional circumstances, a policy opposed by strict protection advocates.
• Fisheries officials warn that each otter can consume between 400 and 500 kilograms of fish annually, posing a serious threat to pond operators.
• Compensation for otter-related losses has climbed to €2.2 million annually, and Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber has pledged full reimbursement and to secure legal authority for culls.
• Naturschutzverbände advocate non-lethal measures such as electric fences, diversion ponds and river renaturation to reduce conflicts between otters and fish farms.