Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary **What the bill does:** This bill allows the Department of the Interior to reinstate a rule that permits people to capture, kill, or relocate double-crested cormorants (large water birds) without needing special permits. The original rule was canceled by a court in 2016. The bill would expand this permission to cover more states and more types of operations, including fish farms, fish hatcheries, and private pond managers licensed by their states. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects aquaculture (fish farming) businesses, fish hatcheries, and private lake and pond operators in multiple states across the U.S. (including Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and others).
Cormorants, which eat fish, are considered a threat to these operations. The bill also indirectly affects wildlife advocates concerned about cormorant populations and the birds themselves. **Current status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and awaits Senate consideration. It was introduced by Representative Mike Ezell (R-MS).
CRS Official Summary
Cormorant Relief Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities in certain states. (The previous order was vacated in 2016 by court order.)Depredation orders allow for the taking (i.e., capturing, killing, dispersing, or transport of the carcass) of a specified species without a permit, generally to reduce damage caused by the species or to protect interests like health or property. Reissuing this order authorizes landowners, operators, tenants, and employees of entities engaged in aquaculture to take double-crested cormorants that are causing or threatening harm at aquaculture facilities and state and federal fish hatcheries.Interior must reissue the depredation order with updates, including an expansion of (1) the number of states covered by the order, and (2) the entities to whom the order applies (i.e., private lake and pond managers who are licensed by the state).Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.