Otters are protected under UK and European Union (“EU”) laws. They are listed under:
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)
- The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010
Under these legislations it is an offence to:
- Capturing, killing, injuring and disturbing;
- Damaging or destroying breeding/resting places;
- Obstructing access to resting places; and
- Possessing, advertising for sale, selling or transporting for sale, live or dead (part or derivative).
Due to these strict legal protections, it is essential to carry out an otter survey before beginning any development work near rivers, streams, or wetland habitats. An otter survey will help determine wether otters are present on or near a site and assess the potential impact of any proposed activities.
At Greenlight, we provide fully compliant, professional otter surveys in line with current legislation and best practise. If you want to find out more about otter survey legislation, get in touch with us.