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Bergman leads field hearing on comorants

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources members were in Alpena for a field hearing at Alpena Community College Monday. The intent of the hearing was to gather information and receive input on the growing cormorant problem in the Great Lakes and to find a suitable and effective way to manage them.

ALPENA — Congressmen Jack Bergman and Bruce Westerman from the House Committee on Natural Resources were in Alpena for a field hearing at Alpena Community College, Monday. The intent of the hearing was to gather information and receive input on the growing cormorant problem in the Great Lakes.

The congressmen wanted to hear firsthand from experts about the impact the birds are having on the fisheries and the environment, and take that knowledge back to Washington where it could lead to proposed legislation being passed.

The hearing was by invitation only and included expert witnesses Daniel Eichinger, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Mark Engle, manager for Les Cheneaux Landing, Randall Claramunt, Lake Huron Basin coordinator Oden State fish hatchery, and Region Three chief migratory bird program Tom Cooper.

The migratory birds have been a problem in Alpena for years, but there was a drop in the number of them migrating to Alpena several years ago after U.S. Fish and Wildlife authorized both lethal and non-lethal control methods for state fish and game agencies in 1998 and 2003. In 2016, however, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ended the lethal method of controlling them, ruling the cormorant is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the numbers began to climb again in the years following the ruling. The lethal and non-lethal options are now determined on a case by case basis and out of the hands of the state agencies.

Cormorants can negatively impact fisheries because of their appetite and damage they can do to bait fish and fingerlings. When in large numbers, the birds also can destroy vegetation, resulting in destruction of habitat for other native bird species.

Bergman sponsored Bill HR 4429, the Cormorant Control Act, that if passed will direct Fish and Wildlife Service to reissue the two depredation orders vacated by the 2016 District Court ruling. That would provide for continued management of cormorants by state fish and game agencies, as well as private aquaculture organizations.

The legislation also shields the reissuance from further judicial review, ensuring that FWS would not have to spend additional taxpayer dollars defending the orders in court. Bergman said this is not just an issue affecting Alpena but the impact is bring felt in other areas around Michigan and other states as well.

Bergman said it is important to address the issue not only because of the impact to the environment, but also because of the damage the birds can cause to the economies of municipalities that rely on fishing and tourism.

“If there are no fish people don’t come, eat at the restaurants, stay in the motels, use the campgrounds, go to casinos or do all of the things that drive the economy in northern Michigan,” Bergman said.

During witness questioning, Westerman asked Claramunt how the birds impacted the fisheries before Fish and Wildlife began allowing the birds to be scared away or killed. He also wanted to know if things improved afterward and how they are today. Claramunt said the evidence is pretty clear the prior regulations were working until the Supreme Court ruled.

“We were seeing game fish populations begin to rebound and the local economies,” he said. “Many fishermen and tourists returned to the area and business improved overall. Most importantly was the quality of life and local heritage was restored for residents and visitors.”

Westerman said his home state is impacted by the cormorants as well, albeit in a different way. In the Great Lakes the birds prey on free ranging fish, while in the south they feast on fish in ponds that will be sold and then planted in other areas of the country. Westerman said in order to get the best information and find out what is actually going on, the committee decided to get the information from the expert witnesses, but also those who live, fish and work in the communities affected by the birds.

“Frequently the best policies come from the people who deal with the problem. They usually know what works and what does not work,” Westerman said. “The opinions of those most impacted by the legislation themselves should be highly valued. That is why we are holding this in Alpena today. To listen and to explore ways to manage these birds.”

All of the experts support Bergman’s proposed legislation and believe if put into law fisheries and economies in communities that are along the migratory path of the birds will be protected.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.

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