Which EU nations are advocating for relaxed culling rules for cormorants?

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Nine EU Nations Urge Easing of Cormorant Culling Rules

Nine member states of the European Union have formally requested a review and potential relaxation of the current culling regulations for cormorants. These nations, including Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden, have communicated their concerns to Brussels, seeking to manage the continent's cormorant population at levels considered both ecologically and economically sustainable.
Concerns Over Cormorant Population Growth

The call for relaxed rules stems from the significant recovery of the great cormorant population across Europe over the past fifty years. Once near-extinct, the species has rebounded to an estimated two million birds by 2026. This resurgence has led to a substantial increase in the birds' predation on fish stocks, causing considerable losses for fishing communities. Fishermen report that large flocks can decimate fish populations in unfrozen waters during winter, with some estimating millions of fish lost annually in regions like the Danube Delta.
Impact on Fish Stocks and Reproduction

Beyond direct consumption, the cormorant's presence is also cited as detrimental to fish reproduction. Ichthyologists note that the birds not only consume fish but also stress and injure them, hindering their ability to reproduce. The intensity of these attacks has been likened to a "chainsaw massacre" by representatives of fishing unions, highlighting the perceived severity of the ecological imbalance. This situation is exacerbated in areas where natural fish shelters are scarce due to management practices.
Proposed Solutions and Conservationist Views

The debate over cormorant population control involves differing perspectives on effective management strategies. While some fishing representatives advocate for more interventionist methods, such as oiling eggs to prevent hatching, conservationists generally favour less drastic measures. They acknowledge the allowance for shooting cormorants under specific EU exceptions to deter them from sensitive fish wintering grounds. Conservationists also point to factors like overfishing in the Baltic Sea, which has reduced natural predators of smaller fish, indirectly benefiting cormorant populations.
Disagreement on Management Approach

Both fishing communities and conservationists generally agree that human activity has contributed to the current ecological situation. However, their proposed solutions diverge significantly. Fishermen argue for increased human intervention to rectify the imbalance, believing that natural mechanisms are insufficient when the environment has been significantly altered by human actions. Conservationists, while accepting controlled deterrent measures, express scepticism about large-scale interventions, citing the birds' intelligence and adaptability, which could render such efforts costly and less effective over time. They often advocate for restoring natural habitats to provide fish with better protection.

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Which EU nations are advocating for relaxed culling rules for cormorants?

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