Bergman: Fish and Wildlife Service Takes Next Step on Cormorant Management

Press Release

Today, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced the next step in the rulemaking process for the management of double-crested cormorants. That proposal can be found HERE.
"Since coming to Congress, establishing new cormorant management orders has been a top natural resource priority for me. Communities in Michigan's First District dealing with increased cormorant populations have struggled to maintain their fisheries, businesses, and natural resources as a result of the 2016 court order which rescinded long-standing depredation tools. Today, we are moving one step closer to establishing data-driven management options for our Great Lakes communities," said Rep. Bergman.

Earlier this year, the Congressman led a multi-Member letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service, urging it to move forward and establish new rules for the management of cormorants in our free-swimming fisheries. This proposed rule would allow State and Tribal wildlife agencies to manage double-crested cormorant populations with respect to wild and publicly stocked fish stocked by State agencies or Tribes; Tribal- and State-owned or operated aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries); human health and safety; State- or Tribal-owned property and assets; and threatened and endangered species.

The public comment period runs through July 20, 2020. Written comments can be submitted via:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2019-0103.

U.S. Mail Or Hand-Delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2019-0103; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: PRB (JAO/3W); 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

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