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A new initiative supported by ten European Union countries has been set up to change the way the Great Cormorant is managed, with the idea of making it huntable in order to limit its impact on fish stocks and aquaculture.
What these countries want
They want the Great Cormorant to be added to the list of huntable species under the Birds Directive, even though it has been protected since 1979. According to the article, the European population has grown from around 50,000 to between 1.5 and 2 million over 50 years. The signatory countries also cite an estimated annual consumption of 180 kg of fish per adult.
Why the debate is sensitive
At the heart of the matter lie two objectives: to protect biodiversity and to limit the economic damage to fishing and fish farming. European texts already allow for derogations in certain cases, but the states in favor of a tougher stance want to go further by changing the status of protection. Non-governmental environmental organizations, on the other hand, fear that a relaxation would open the door to further setbacks for protected species.
What this means in practice
In the short term, this is not an automatic decision: these states need to convince a larger majority within the EU. It's a debate reminiscent of that on the wolf, whose status was relaxed in 2025. In short, this is a European political battle over the level of protection afforded to species deemed too abundant by certain sectors.
