Double-Crested Cormorants and Fisheries in Florida

Wintering and breeding populations of Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in Florida underwent declines in the middle of the 20th century, rebounding in the 1980s. Overall, little conflict occurs between cormorants and the food-fish and game-fish industries in Florida waters. Specific conflicts exist when wintering cormorants feed at inland hatcheries, grow-out ponds, and ornamental-fish ponds, where high-value tropical and pet fish crops may be completely lost to fish-eating birds. These ponds are small in acreage, such that exclusion (netting), scare devices (dogs), or a change in cultural practices (segregating fish by size classes) may be appropriate methods to reduce fish losses to piscivorous birds.