Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

This bill would require the Department of the Interior to reissue a depredation order allowing for the taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities and fish hatcheries in certain states. The order would authorize specific individuals, such as facility operators and licensed private lake managers, to capture or kill these birds to prevent damage to property and fish stocks. Additionally, the bill proposes to expand the number of states and entities covered by the order and requires the Department of the Interior to renew the order every five years.

This bill affects landowners, operators, tenants, and employees of aquaculture facilities and state and federal fish hatcheries, as well as private lake and pond managers licensed by the state. These individuals would be authorized to take double-crested cormorants that threaten or cause harm to their facilities. Additionally, the Department of the Interior is required to reissue and update the depredation order every five years.

• Reissuance of the aquaculture depredation order. The Department of the Interior must reissue the depredation order for double-crested cormorants, which allows for the taking of the species without a permit to prevent damage at aquaculture facilities.
• Expansion of covered entities and geographic scope. The bill requires updates to the order that increase the number of covered states and expand the authorized entities to include state-licensed private lake and pond managers.
• Authorization for taking cormorants at fish hatcheries. Landowners, operators, and employees are authorized to capture, kill, or disperse double-crested cormorants that threaten harm at aquaculture facilities as well as state and federal fish hatcheries.
• Mandatory five-year renewal cycle. The Department of the Interior is required to renew the depredation order every five years.

• H.R. 2293, Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
  Sep 29, 2025 · As reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on September 15, 2025

This bill requires the Department of the Interior to reissue and update a previous depredation order for double-crested cormorants that was vacated by a court order in 2016. The legislation expands the scope of the prior order by increasing the number of covered states and the types of eligible entities, while establishing a new requirement for the order to be renewed every five years.

The bill aims to mitigate damage caused by double-crested cormorants by requiring the Department of the Interior to reissue and update a depredation order. This order allows aquaculture facilities, fish hatcheries, and certain private lake managers to take the birds to protect property and aquatic resources from harm.