Today, the US Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding Management of Conflicts Associated with Double-crested Cormorants. The preferred alternative establishes a new permit available to state and tribal wildlife agencies in the 48 contiguous states for management of Double-crested Cormorants on state and tribal owned lands. In addition:
The Service may issue a permit to reduce conflicts involving depredation at state- and tribal-owned-or-operated aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries) and assets; impacts to health and human safety; impacts to federally threatened and endangered species (as listed in under the ESA) and state-listed species identified in their state- or tribal-specific legislation as threatened or endangered; damage to state or tribal property; or depredations of wild and publicly stocked fisheries stocked by state agencies or federally recognized tribes.
The public comment period is open until July 20, 2020.
