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Content archived on 2019-03-15

IMPACT AND CONTROL OF FISH-EATING BIRDS ON THE FISH FARMS OF THE CAMARGUE.

Objective

TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF CORMORANT AND GREY HERON ON FISH CULTURE AND TO DEVELOP METHODS FOR DAMAGE PREVENTION.

AS A RESULT OF WORK UNDERTAKEN SO FAR, THE PROJECT WILL BE RE-ORIENTED AS FOLLOWS:

1. NUMBER OF PREDATORS

1.1 NUMBER OF CORMORANTS WINTERING IN THE CAMARGUE

DATA IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 1980 - APRIL 1981. THE UNUSUALLY COLD WINTER, HOWEVER, MIGHT HAVE CAUSED BIRD MOVEMENTS AND THEREFORE TWO MONTHLY COUNTS WILL BE CARRIED OUT FROM SEPTEMBER 1981 TO APRIL 1982.

1.2 NUMBER OF PREDATORS IN THE FISH FARMS

THE PRESENCE OF THE PREDATORS IS RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND IN VIEW OF THE FINAL AIM OF THIS WORK, A SECOND DATA SET IS DESIRABLE. SYSTEMATIC COUNTS OF ALL FISH-EATING BIRDS ARE CARRIED OUT EVERY TEN DAYS AT PEAK FEEDING HOURS IN THE TWO MAIN FISH FARMS OF THE AREA. THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WHICH ARE DIFFERENT IN THE TWO FISH FARMS ARE MONITORED.

2. FISH SPECIES AND BIOMASS TAKEN BY CORMORANTS IN THE FISH FARMS

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFINE OBJECTIVELY THE AMOUNT OF FISH TAKEN BY THE CORMORANTS; NEVERTHELESS MORE DATA ON INTAKE ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SIMPLIFIED METHODS FOR EVALUATION OF THE DAMAGE.

3. THE DIET OF THE CORMORANT IN THE CAMARGUE

ROOSTING CORMORANTS DISGORGE PELLETS OF WHICH A LARGE SAMPLE HAS BEEN COLLECTED.THE ANALYSIS OF THESE PELLETS WILL BE AUSEFULL CONTRIBUTION TO THE DIET STUDY SINCE THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE NATURAL FEEDING HABITATS AS WELL.

4. CONTROL OF THE CORMORANTS

4.1 HABITAT SELECTION WITH THE FISH FARMS

4.2 CONTROL OF CORMORANT POPULATIONS BY CHANGING ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

4.3 SCARING DEVICES.

Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Fondation Sansouire
EU contribution
No data
Address

13200 Arles
France

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Total cost
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