ANGLERS trying to stop cormorants stealing trout in Loompit lake are planning to meet with environmental groups to discuss their options. Among their ideas is a suggestion from a Star reader.

ANGLERS trying to stop cormorants stealing trout in Loompit lake are planning to meet with environmental groups to discuss their options.

Among their ideas is a suggestion from a Star reader. Sophie Hendin, 29, of Frampton Road, Ipswich, who phoned in after seeing "artificial reefs" used to solve the same problem on a TV programme.

"It's simple," she said, "The fish need some where to hide from the cormorants attack.

"A wire cage covered in weed and weighted at the bottom should be dragged out into the middle of the lake and left to sink. The holes need to be large enough to let the fish in but not the birds. When the fish spot an attack they can dart for cover.

"This is much better than killing the birds or scaring them to death with explosives."

The idea of providing refuge areas would be cheap to install with low maintenance in comparison to the present scaring tactics.

Mick Wright, Warden of Trimley Marshes, thought that providing such areas was a good idea. However Iain Blinkworth, vice chairman of Suffolk Fly Fishers, didn't think it would work.

He said: "We were already planning to discuss this idea at the meeting with English Nature and the Department for the environment, food and rural affairs proposed on March 20. However I am doubtful it will be practical at Loompit lake as the lake is too large and too shallow. We get a lot off weed providing cover for the rainbow trout anyway and in summer half of the lake is unfishable because of it."

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