Wildlife

Cormorant Welfare and Fisheries Conflict Management

Great cormorants are frequently persecuted by fishery owners and angling interests, raising welfare concerns about lethal control and disturbance at roost sites despite legal protection.

Key Facts

Great cormorants are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Cormorant licences allowing lethal control at fisheries are issued annually under derogation in England
Estimated 2,000-3,000 cormorants are killed under licence annually in England
Non-lethal deterrents including overhead wires and sound deterrents are available alternatives to lethal control

Welfare Considerations

Cormorant welfare is compromised by lethal control at fisheries and disturbance at roost sites. Legal protection exists but is frequently overridden by licence. Individual birds shot under licence face welfare risks from wounding if shots are poorly placed. Non-lethal deterrents are available and in some cases more effective at protecting fisheries without welfare costs to cormorants.

What You Can Do

Support fisheries that use non-lethal cormorant deterrents rather than lethal control
Advocate for a higher evidential bar for cormorant lethal control licences
Report illegal persecution of cormorants or other protected birds to the RSPB and police
Support research into effective non-lethal cormorant management that protects fishery interests without killing birds