H.R. 2293 · Passed House · Animals

Cormorant Relief Act of 2025

What it does

Requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities in certain states.
Lets aquaculture landowners, operators, tenants, and employees take cormorants causing or threatening harm at aquaculture facilities and state and federal fish hatcheries without a permit.
Expands the order to more states and to state-licensed private lake and pond managers.
Requires Interior to renew the order every five years.

Official summary

Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 This bill requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities in certain states. (The previous order was vacated in 2016 by court order.) Depredation orders allow for the taking (i.e., capturing, killing, dispersing, or transport of the carcass) of a specified species without a permit, generally to reduce damage caused by the species or to protect interests like health or property. Reissuing this order authorizes landowners, operators, tenants, and employees of entities engaged in aquaculture to take double-crested cormorants that are causing or threatening harm at aquaculture facilities and state and federal fish hatcheries. Interior must reissue the depredation order with updates, including an expansion of (1) the number of states covered by the order, and (2) the entities to whom the order applies (i.e., private lake and pond managers who are licensed by the state). Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.

Latest action

Dec 10, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works