Resolving conflict between wild otters and fish farms through effective deterrents protects both a recovering native species and the livelihoods of aquaculture producers.
The conflict between otters and fish farmers involves welfare considerations for both parties. Individual otters illegally killed by fish farmers die from shooting, trapping, or poisoning causing acute welfare harm to protected animals. Effective non-lethal deterrents resolve the conflict without welfare harm to either party: fish farmers protect their stock and otters are diverted to alternative foraging rather than being killed. Investing in effective electric fencing eliminates both the welfare harm to otters from illegal persecution and the financial harm to fish farmers from depredation, creating a genuine win-win outcome when properly funded and implemented.