Cormorant Relief Act of 2025
Summary
The Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 mandates the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations concerning the taking of double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities. This reissuance aims to update and expand the original depredation order, which allows for the controlled taking of cormorants to protect aquaculture resources. The Act also includes provisions for periodic renewal and clarifies that it does not waive compliance with environmental protection laws.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to increased protection for aquaculture facilities from cormorant predation by expanding the geographic scope and entities covered by the depredation order. It will also modernize the regulations and remove the expiration date, providing a more stable regulatory environment. However, the impact on cormorant populations and the broader ecosystem remains a consideration.
Potential Benefits
- Protection of Aquaculture: Helps protect aquaculture facilities from economic losses due to cormorant predation.
- Expanded Coverage: Extends the depredation order to additional states, territories, lake managers, and pond managers.
- Modernized Regulations: Updates terminology and simplifies compliance provisions, making the order easier to implement.
- Long-Term Stability: Removes the expiration date, ensuring the regulations remain in effect unless actively changed.
- Flexibility: Allows the Secretary to add more states or territories as needed.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential Environmental Impact: Increased taking of cormorants could negatively impact local populations and ecosystems.
- Conflicting Interests: May create conflict between aquaculture interests and environmental groups concerned about bird conservation.
- Administrative Burden: Requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue and periodically renew the depredation order, adding to administrative workload.
- Limited Scope: The Act focuses narrowly on aquaculture facilities and does not address broader cormorant management issues.
- Potential for Abuse: Expanded permissions for taking cormorants could be misused if not properly monitored and enforced.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Cormorant Relief Act aligns with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) by regulating activities that affect interstate commerce, specifically the aquaculture industry. It also respects the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches, as Congress is enacting legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to take specific actions. The Act includes a rule of construction to ensure compliance with existing environmental laws, demonstrating consideration for other constitutional mandates.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).