LANSING – State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) today announced that the House has passed a package of bills designed to control the troublesome cormorant population. The birds' voracious appetites have caused declining fish populations in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan, which could severely hamper the tourism industry throughout the area.
"We cannot sit back and let the exploding cormorant population destroy our fish stocks," McDowell said. "While some progress has been made through the use of federal funds to control this nuisance species, there is still much more that can and should be done. Tourism is a vital part of our economy, and many of our visitors come here to fish our lakes and rivers. These birds have a devastating effect on our communities."
The package of bills creates a "cormorant control fund" within the State Treasury that could receive money or assets from any source. The bills also would require the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to administer a program dedicated to controlling the birds and reducing the damage they cause. The DNR also would be required to take part in a regional effort to reduce cormorant damage, and to seek funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund to be earmarked for the cormorant control fund.
Anglers have been complaining for years that a rapidly growing cormorant population on the Great Lakes is destroying fish stocks, including alewives, trout, perch and salmon. The sport and commercial fishing industry has been calling for measures to reduce the cormorant populations.
"This is not a problem that we can ignore," McDowell said. "Our lakes, streams and rivers are part of a precious ecosystem that is invaluable to our economy and our special way of life. It must be protected, and we must be proactive."