Press Releases

Today, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced the next step in the rulemaking process for the management of double-crested cormorants. That proposal can be found HERE. 

"Since coming to Congress, establishing new cormorant management orders has been a top natural resource priority for me. Communities in Michigan’s First District dealing with increased cormorant populations have struggled to maintain their fisheries, businesses, and natural resources as a result of the 2016 court order which rescinded long-standing depredation tools. Today, we are moving one step closer to establishing data-driven management options for our Great Lakes communities," said Rep. Bergman.  

Earlier this year, the Congressman led a multi-Member letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service, urging it to move forward and establish new rules for the management of cormorants in our free-swimming fisheries. This proposed rule would allow State and Tribal wildlife agencies to manage double-crested cormorant populations with respect to wild and publicly stocked fish stocked by State agencies or Tribes; Tribal- and State-owned or operated aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries); human health and safety; State- or Tribal-owned property and assets; and threatened and endangered species.

The public comment period runs through July 20, 2020. Written comments can be submitted via: 

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

U.S. Mail Or Hand-Delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-MB-2019-0103; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; MS: PRB (JAO/3W); 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.