Summary
Tells the government to create regional plans for managing the population of double-crested cormorants, including rules for when and how they can be hunted.
What problem does this solve?
Large populations of cormorants can harm local fish, plants, and other birds. This bill creates a plan for states, tribes, and hunters to control the cormorant population in a managed way.
Who does this affect?
- State and Tribal wildlife agencies
- Hunters and property managers
- Fishing industry
What does this bill do?
Creates regional management plans
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to work with Regional Flyway Councils to create plans for managing double-crested cormorants.
Identifies who can hunt cormorants
Allows State and Tribal agencies, licensed hunters, and private lake and pond managers to hunt or 'take' cormorants according to the new plans.
Requires regular population counts
Mandates a survey of the cormorant population within five years and every five years after that to inform management decisions.
Considers environmental and health impacts
Ensures management plans account for the effects of too many cormorants on fisheries, plants, other birds, human health, and water quality.
Allows management in wildlife refuges
Identifies management actions that can be taken within National Wildlife Refuge System lands to help meet state and tribal goals for cormorant control.
What is the real world impact?
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Protects local ecosystems and economies
Aims to reduce the negative impact of large cormorant populations on fisheries, sensitive plants, and other bird species, which can help local economies and environments.
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Expands authority for wildlife control
Gives states, tribes, and private managers more power to control a migratory bird species that is normally protected by the federal government, allowing for more localized management.
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Could face opposition from animal welfare groups
Critics may argue that the bill promotes killing a native bird species instead of exploring non-lethal control methods or questioning if the population is truly a widespread problem.
When does this start?
This bill sets several deadlines for creating and updating cormorant management plans.
Initial management plans
The first regional management plans must be created within 180 days after the bill becomes law.
First population survey
The first count of the cormorant population must be done within 5 years of the bill becoming law.
Ongoing updates
The management plans and population surveys must be reviewed and updated every 5 years.