WSJM: House committee approves cormorant legislation from Walberg

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee has unanimously approved legislation from Congressman Tim Walberg intended to better manage the double-crested cormorant population around the Great Lakes.

Walberg’s “Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act” would establish a framework seeking to ensure cormorant population management is effective. He says the large birds have posed challenges for fisheries and wildlife populations.

“Overabundant cormorant populations have damaged Great Lakes fish stocks,” Walberg said. “I was proud to see the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously pass my bill, the Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act, to protect our fisheries by using a flexible, science driven framework to manage cormorants responsibly.”

Walberg says cormorant populations in some parts of the country are doubling every four years. He says it’s an issue that affects more states than Michigan.

Walberg’s bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop regional management frameworks to guide the hunting of double-crested cormorants, working in coordination with the nation’s four Regional Flyway Councils. It now goes on to the full U.S. House.