U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Double-crested Cormorant Management

Quick Facts Current Status

• Cormorants have been In October 2003, the U.S. Fish and protected under the federal Wildlife Service released a Final Rule Migratory Bird Treaty Act since and Record of Decision allowing more 1972 after their populations flexibility in the control of double- dropped precipitously as a result crested cormorants where they are of factors such as use of the causing damage to aquaculture and pesticide DDT. public resources such as fisheries, vegetation or other birds. • Today, cormorant populations are at historic highs in many The rule expands an aquaculture areas due in large part to the depredation order that has been in presence of ample food in their place in 13 states since 1998 to allow summer and winter ranges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s federal and state protection, and reduced contaminant levels. Wildlife Services division to conduct winter roost control. It also establishes Hot Topic • The total estimated a public resource depredation order to population of double-crested allow state wildlife agencies, tribes and cormorants in North America is Wildlife Services to conduct cormorant Michigan Initiates Cormorant control to protect public resources in 24 approximately 2 million birds. Management Plan: states, including Illinois, Indiana, In May, USDA Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Wildlife Services and the U.S. Fish Management Needs Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Without and Wildlife Service released the these depredation orders, agencies and final Environmental Assessment • Any agency that wants to individuals would not be able to control spelling out plans to reduce double- control double-crested cormorant cormorants without a federal permit. crested cormorant damage in damage must submit a written Michigan. justification to the U.S. Fish and Through the new rule, the Service Wildlife Service. may authorize states, tribes and Wildlife Services to manage and • Agencies that conduct control double-crested cormorants to cormorant population control The Service also modified its 1998 locally are required to evaluate protect public resources (fish, wildlife, aquaculture depredation order to allow the effects of their action on plants and their habitats). control of cormorants at winter roosts near double-crested cormorant fish farms and to allow fish hatcheries to populations and annually report Agencies acting under the order protect their stock from cormorant their findings to the U.S. Fish and must have landowner permission, may predation. This added authority applies to Wildlife Service. not adversely affect other migratory the original 13 states in the 1998 order. bird species, threatened or endangered species, and must satisfy annual Double-crested cormorants are colonial reporting and evaluation requirements. waterbirds whose numbers have increased The Service will ensure long-term substantially in the past 30 years. They have conservation of cormorant populations been documented to have caused damage to with annual assessments of agency resources such as commercial aquaculture, reports and regular population recreational fisheries, vegetation and the monitoring. habitat of other colonial nesting birds.

Produced by Region 3, External Affairs, June 2004