Cormorant Relief Act

Summary#

This bill, the Cormorant Relief Act of 2025, directs the Secretary of the Interior to reissue an earlier depredation order about double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities. The reissued order must match the version that was in effect on January 1, 2016 (section 21.47 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations), with two changes: it will also apply to the States of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; and it will also apply to people licensed by a State to manage private lakes or ponds (called lake managers and pond managers). The Secretary must reissue the order within one year after the law is enacted.

What it means for you#

• If you operate an aquaculture facility or are a state-licensed lake or pond manager in one of the listed states, the reissued order will let you use the same authorities for taking double-crested cormorants that were allowed under the 2016 depredation order.
• If you are outside those states or are not an aquaculture operator or licensed lake/pond manager, the bill does not change existing permissions for taking these birds.
• The bill sets a deadline (one year) for the Interior Department to reissue the earlier rule with the specified additions.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, budget effects, or funding is included in the bill text. The bill requires the Secretary to act within one year but does not specify any appropriations or estimated expenses.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describing supporters' stated reasons or arguments for the change.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describing opponents' stated reasons or arguments against the change.