(ANSA) Oristano, June 19 - Sardinian environmental
activists were up in arms Friday after fishers' co-operatives
demanded a cull of cormorants they claim have pilfered tonnes of
fish from the sea around the Mediterranean island.
"It is always the fault of the cormorants,"
environmentalists of a juridical intervention group said in a
statement issued in response to a request by the fishers for
authorities to undertake "controlled containment" of the aquatic
birds.
The Greens say that poor management of the fishing
industry, pollution and disastrous public works policies are to
blame for the reduced catches around the island.
The fishers for their part claim that as many as 12,000
cormorants scoffed at least 5 million tonnes of fish a day in
waters off Oristano province between October and April.
Environmentalists challenge those figures, however, saying
they are not supported by official data, and argue that previous
culls of the sea birds in the past have yielded no concrete
results.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
