What prompted nine EU members to seek easier culling of cormorants?

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Nine EU Members Seek Easing of Cormorant Culling Rules Due to Population Overabundance

Nine European Union member states, including Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden, have formally requested a relaxation of the rules governing the culling of great cormorants. This appeal stems from a significant recovery of the cormorant population, which has transitioned from a state of near extinction to one of overabundance, leading to escalating concerns about the birds' impact on fish stocks.
Cormorant Overpopulation Affects Fish Stocks

The primary driver behind the request for eased culling regulations is the cormorant's voracious appetite and its detrimental effect on fish populations. Fishers report that large gatherings of cormorants can decimate or severely damage entire fish populations in unfrozen waters. Beyond direct consumption, the birds are also noted to injure and stress fish, which can hinder their reproductive capabilities. In Romania's Danube Delta, for instance, the annual loss of millions of fish attributed to cormorant predation has been highlighted as a significant concern.
Population Growth Since Protected Status

The substantial increase in the cormorant population is directly linked to the species being granted protected status in 1979. Prior to this protection, the cormorant population had dwindled to a few thousand breeding pairs. However, since the early 1960s, numbers have rebounded dramatically, with estimates suggesting the European cormorant population could reach two million birds by 2026. This resurgence has led to a situation where the birds are perceived as overabundant in many areas.
Factors Contributing to Cormorant Success

Several ecological factors have contributed to the cormorant's population boom. In regions like the Baltic Sea, overfishing of larger predatory fish has reduced the natural predation on smaller fish fry, creating a more abundant food source for cormorants. Furthermore, in some European waters, fish lack adequate hiding places due to efforts to clear natural shelters and the design of ponds, making them more vulnerable to predation by cormorants. The species also benefits from having very few natural predators, allowing their numbers to multiply largely unchecked.
Agreement on Migrant Flocks as Primary Culprits

Both fishing communities and conservationists generally concur that the most significant damage to fish stocks is inflicted by large flocks of migrant cormorants, rather than established local populations. While this point of agreement exists, the proposed methods for managing these impactful flocks differ considerably between the groups, reflecting a broader tension between human intervention and natural ecological processes.

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What prompted nine EU members to seek easier culling of cormorants?

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