Experts and members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries called on Wednesday 11 May for a European-level management plan for cormorant populations because of the losses they cause to the fishing and aquaculture sectors.
By the end of November 2021, several MEPs had called for European measures, such as regional management plans, to address the problem of proliferating cormorant populations (see EUROPE 12842/6). The cormorant is a protected species under the Birds Directive, but derogations are possible and used by EU countries.
Niels Jepsen, a researcher at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), said that there are about 1 million cormorants in the EU. Fifteen million cod per year are consumed by these birds in the Danish part of the Western Baltic.
Anna Pyc, a carp farmer with the Polish Trout Breeders Association, spoke about how cormorant predation affects fisheries and aquaculture. She recommended management plans for cormorants in the EU and the non-protection of the species in aquaculture areas.
Oliver Martini, Board Member of the Italian Aquaculture Association, explained that only nets can prevent losses caused by cormorants in aquaculture ponds, “but you can’t cover 6,000 hectares!”.
Stefan Jäger, Chairman of the Cormorant Commission of the German Fisheries Association, said that the high presence of cormorants is disrupting ecosystems (including water quality). This bird also threatens grayling stocks.
Béla Halasi-Kovács, from the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), regretted the lack of management of cormorants at European level. According to him, the consumption of fish by these birds amounts to 300 million tonnes per year in Europe.
Annie Schreijer-Pierik (EPP, Netherlands) also called for a European management plan and an evaluation of the Habitat Directive.
“We need to do more”, said Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spain). The cormorant needs to be protected, but the impact on some aquaculture activities is very significant, she noted.
François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP, France) called for the protection of aquaculture. “Action is needed. The tools available are no longer adequate”, he says. He called for an update of the regulations, as the cormorant is no longer a protected species.
Caroline Roose (Greens/EFA, France) said that EU countries already make use of the derogations provided for in the directive.
For Anouk Puymartin of BirdLife, there is “no scientific basis for a management plan for the species at European level”. She estimated that the population is 500,000 birds in the EU and that the population trend is stabilising.
The European Parliament Committee on Fisheries is expected to prepare a report on the subject.
The European Parliament has prepared a study for this hearing: https://aeur.eu/f/1l8 (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)