Eider farmers dissatisfied with predator control measures in Iceland's Melrakkaslétta

A group of six eider farmers on Iceland's eastern Melrakkaslétta plain have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current management of fox and mink populations, which they say are severely impacting their eider colonies. In a formal letter to the Norðurþing municipality, the farmers detailed significant damage to their eider nests last year, with expectations of similar losses this year.

The farmers assert that the culling efforts for foxes and minks have been inadequate, leading to a noticeable increase in these predator populations in the region. This increase directly threatens the eider ducks, which are a source of income for the farmers through their down feathers.

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The culling of foxes and minks has not been sufficient, and they have increased significantly in the area.

Compounding their frustration is a perceived lack of communication and coordination with the designated hunter responsible for predator control in the area. The farmers claim that the hunter has operated without consulting landowners, deciding when to visit dens and whether to cull predators independently. "Neither the department head nor the hunter has considered it relevant to the eider farmers when the dens are visited and whether they have been culled or not," the farmers stated in their letter.

This situation has created tension between the local farmers and the authorities responsible for wildlife management. The farmers are seeking more effective predator control measures and improved communication to protect their livelihoods and the eider populations.

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Neither the department head nor the hunter has considered it relevant to the eider farmers when the dens are visited and whether they have been culled or not.