STATUS AND DIRECTION OF CORMORANT MANAGEMENT UNDER THE 2017 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Over the past 40 years a significant rise in the population of the double-crested-cormorant (Phala-crocorax auritus) a long-lived fish eating bird has led to cormorant-society conflicts associated with commercial and natural resources such as aquaculture, property and fisheries.   In the 1990's, DCCO's became a management priority for the USFWS as conflicts, real or perceived, continued to escalate.  Following extensive National Environmental Policy Act and rule making process review the USFWS in cooperation with USDA Wildlife Services recommended new options to address cormorant conflicts.  The Aquaculture Depredation Order (AQDO) was issued in 1998.  A 2003 Final Environmental Impact Statement led to the Public Resource Depredation Order (PRDO) and updates to the AQDA.  The AQDO and PRDO affected 13 and 24 states respectively, providing producers and management agencies increased flexibility including the use of lethal control while maintaining sustainable cormorant populations.

In accordance with NEPA procedures, the orders were reviewed and renewed via Environmental Assessments (EA) in 2009 and 2014.  However, in May 2016 the orders were vacated when a federal judge concluded that the USFWS did not adequately consider the impacts on cormorant population and failed to consider additional alternatives under the EA issued in 2014.  Without the orders and adequate NEPA documentation the USFWS stopped issuing or renewing depredation permits for cormorant take in states previously covered by the orders.  In 2017, the USFWS finalized an "EA for Issuing Depredation Permits for Double-Crested Cormorant Management"; making decisions on depredation permit applications (pursuant to 50 C.F.R 21.41 for the take of double-crested cormorants across 37 states for the protection of human safety aquaculture, natural resources and property.  The EA does not cover free swimming fish and establishes conservative maximum allowable take limits for each state.  As better cormorant data is available the USFWS may consider less restrictive take.  Information on depredation permit issuance and take data under the 2017 EA will be presented.  Efforts to evaluate the EA status, direction, alternatives; communication and take levels including USFWS supported workshops and state agency supported bird fish conflict working groups and the future of cormorant management will be presented.