Press Releases

Today, Representatives Jack Bergman, Bruce Westerman, Rick Crawford, and Michael Guest submitted public comment to the Department of Interior, urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to move forward in the rulemaking process to provide depredation measures for cormorants in free swimming, wild fish areas and aquaculture facilities.

The Congressmen wrote in part, "We urge the USFWS to collaborate with state fish and wildlife agencies, tribes, and Federal partners to create a long-term solution for both aquaculture and free- swimming fisheries. We acknowledge the relief provided in the November 2018 Environmental Assessment (EA) allowing for the lethal take of cormorants in aquaculture facilities, but failure to address free swimming and recreational fisheries is detrimental to that recent success."

They continued, "We have seen our communities continue to struggle with the current damage to natural resources and loss of fish populations. The USFWS must maintain accurate data and establish management and control options for both wild fisheries and aquaculture facilities."

The full letter can be found HERE.

The public comment period will end today, March 9th. Written comments can be submitted either:

• Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2019-0103.

By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–HQ–MB–2019–0103; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: JAO/1N, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.