[va-richmond-general] Cormorant "Management" plans
- From: Larry R Lynch <birder6@xxxxxxxx>
- To: VA-Richmond-General@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 15:19:41 -0400
Hey everybody.... Here is some information that you might be interested
in. I just received the notice from the American Bird Conservancy.
Larry Lynch birder6@xxxxxxxx
FWS PROPOSAL TO ALLOW SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
KILLING MOVING FORWARD: PROPOSED NEW REGULATION TO BE PUBLISHED BY END OF
JULY PRIOR TO FINALIZATION OF EIS.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proceeding with draft regulations
to implement its preferred alternative for Double-crested Cormorant
management nationwide. The draft regs would result in a marked increase
in the killing of Cormorants. FWS proposes to allow states and other
federal agencies to shoot unlimited numbers of Double-crested Cormorants,
without permits. This would be done under a general Depredation Order.
State and federal agencies also could destroy Cormorant eggs and nest
sites. To shoot Cormorants or destroy eggs and nests, the agencies would
have to find that the Cormorants are "injurious to public resources" such
as fish, plants, or other species. Currently, state and federal agencies
may use non-lethal control methods but may not shoot cormorants or take
their eggs without permits from the FWS justifying each particular case.
In addition, the FWS proposal would allow the USDA?s Wildlife Services
division to kill Cormorants at roost sites in 13 states covered by the
aquaculture depredation order, even if birds from the roost sites are not
depredating fish in an aquaculture facility. The FWS had denied USDA this
authority in 1998.
The DEIS estimates that Cormorant killing would increase to about 204,500
birds annually. This increased mortality and population impact does not
include any effects from increased egg addling and oiling and nest
destruction. These are only rough estimates as the FWS proposal has no
limits on the shooting and egg and nest destruction that may take place.
Over 1,500 comments were submitted on the Draft EIS. The regs would
accomplish the preferred alternative in the FWS draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) on Cormorant Management, even though the FWS
final EIS is not finished and won't be until this winter. Most of you
submitted strong objections to this preferred alternative and the
dangerous precedent it establishes for all fish-eating birds. There are
at least 73 bird species found in freshwater or saltwater habitats of the
United States whose diet consists primarily of fish. As fisheries
decline due to over-fishing, habitat degradation, dams, invasive species,
and pollutants, birds that eat fish are easy targets for fishermen and
some elected officials. The scapegoating of Double-crested Cormorants for
these fishery declines is without scientific merit; the birds represent
an easy public target rather than dealing with the real causes of decline
by restricting harvest, restoring habitat, restricting harmful
contaminants, eliminating invasives, and breaching or installing fish
passages on dams. Great Blue Herons were cited by fish farmers in a
survey as the number 2 species, after DCCOs, responsible for taking
Channel Catfish in 1996. Is a depredation order next for the Great Blue
Heron? Caspian Terns are being scapegoated in the Columbia River for
salmon declines with little or no scientific basis and their largest
colony in the world has been moved.
Rather than assess each permit application under the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act for scientific merit and necessity as is currently done, the
FWS Proposed Alternative would abdicate such responsibility to each state
and each federal agency. The FWS has issued over 400 individual
depredation permits to lethally control Cormorants or take or oil their
eggs over the last 6 years. In addition, aquaculturists in 13 states can
and do shoot Cormorants at and around the ponds, without permits.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: The FWS can reverse its decision to proceed with the
preferred alternative and defer publishing regs until the EIS is
finalized. The same comments that many of you submitted on the Draft EIS,
still apply. You should contact:
Mr. Steve Williams, Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
202-208-6965 (FAX) and e-mail: <steven_williams@xxxxxxx>
SEE: www.abcbirds.org/policy/piscivors.htm for ABC's detailed comments
on the Draft EIS.
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