Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require the U.S. Department of the Interior to create regional management plans for controlling the population of double-crested cormorants, a type of large, fish-eating bird found across North America. Specifically, it directs the federal government to develop organized frameworks that would allow for the "take" of these birds — a wildlife management term that typically includes actions like trapping, relocating, or killing animals to reduce their numbers in a given area.

Double-crested cormorants have seen significant population growth in recent decades, and they are known to eat large quantities of fish. This has put them in conflict with commercial and recreational fishermen, fish farmers (aquaculture operators), and wildlife managers who oversee freshwater lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. The bill appears intended to give federal officials a more structured, region-by-region approach to managing cormorant populations where they are causing problems, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all national policy.

The bill would primarily affect fishing communities, fish hatchery operators, tribal nations with fishing rights, and state wildlife agencies that deal with the impact of cormorant populations on local fish stocks. It could also affect conservation and wildlife groups that monitor bird populations. By requiring *regional* frameworks, the bill acknowledges that cormorant-related challenges vary depending on geography and local ecosystems. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.