Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

Full Title:
Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

Summary#

This bill, the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue the "original depredation order" for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities. The reissued order must be the same as the original order (the rule in 50 CFR 21.47 as of January 1, 2016), except it must also apply to the States of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The reissued order must also apply to "lake managers" and "pond managers"—people licensed by a State regulatory agency to manage a private lake or pond—in the same way it applies to the entities covered by the original order. The bill defines the terms used and names the Secretary as the Secretary of the Interior acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill was introduced March 24, 2025, by Rep. Mike Ezell with several cosponsors and was later received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

What it means for you#

  • Aquaculture facilities in the listed additional States would be covered by the reissued depredation order, which governs the taking of double-crested cormorants at those facilities.
  • Lake managers and pond managers who are licensed by a State agency would also be covered by the reissued order in the same manner as entities covered by the original order.
  • The bill changes who may rely on the depredation order (by adding specific States and new categories of managers) but does not itself describe new actions beyond reissuing the original order and expanding its coverage.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, funding, or fiscal effects is provided in the bill text or accompanying metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata about proponents' stated reasons or arguments.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata about opponents' stated reasons or arguments.