Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on March 15, 2007, to define terms for define terms for the double-crested cormorant control program proposed by Senate Bill 354. See House substitute description for details of the definitions

The vote was 105 in favor, 0 opposed and 5 not voting

(House Roll Call 196 at House Journal 58)

Click here to view bill details.

It's a good start. As a fisherman, I'm disgusted by the (literally) thousands of these birds I see on Lake Huron, and Saginaw Bay. These birds are wasting dollars spent on reviving the walleye, salmon, trout, perch, etc. fisheries in the state.

Yes, it is important that this bill includes funding for a comorant control program.

It's about time they do something about that trash bird.

lol

The double crested cormorant situation in the Great Lakes is out of control. Flocks of thousands of these birds are decimating fish populations and destroying wildlife habitat on islands and nesting areas throughout the great lakes region. The impact these birds have on the eco-systems they invade is astronomical. Entire species of game fish have been nearly wiped out in areas where the cormorants have invaded. Islands and National Wildlife Refuges throughout the Great Lakes region are barren of vegetation due to the cormorants nesting there. Something needs to be done to get these birds in check before we loose more of our natural resources. Jason Adam Detroit Area Steelheaders - President

Michigan is in enough financial trouble. We must control the Cormorant population before they deplete our greatest asset, the fishery. We try so had to keep a productive fishery, but the Cormorant is reeking havoc on our efforts. I believe that the Michigan Government does not fully understand the impact of the bird on the fish population. There is alot of misinformation surronding the bird. Such as, when rating the population we use the numbers from the Christmas Sensus, instead of using the numbers when the Cormorant have not migrated. The other fact is that Cormorants Have been caught in the indian nets 100ft down. This tells me that they are also eating Salmon, Brown Trout and Steelhead. The other great mith is that the Cormorant only eats small fish. The bird is fully capable of swallowing a 16 inch walleye.

This bird must be controlled! Our Michigan fishing is at a great risk. I am a great lakes fisherman that truly treasures the fishery we have. If this bird is not controlled to a manageable level our fishery as we know it will cease to exist. No one wants to see that happen. I feel this issue is not well understood throughout the legislative ranks and has not had the media attention it deserves. If someone feels this is only catering to a small portion of the population I think you better readjust your thoughts. Great lake fishermen support a good part of this fishery through taxes and fees that all outdoor people get to enjoy. The fishery goes away, so does the fisherman and so does the money. Please support this bill. Robert Jones VP of Detroit Area Steelheaders Member of Metro West Steelheaders Member of Oakland County Sportfishing Association.

Please let the DNR control these overpopulated birds as opposed to vigilante control which has been done in the past.

Please support this bill. I am an avid great lakes fisherman who values the resources we have in this state. This bird threatens to devastate our resource which will have severe economic impacts. This bird needs to be controlled. regards.

There must be controls on the explosive growth of this species. They are doing massive damage to our fisheries and habitat under their protected status. I support reducing their populations by any means neccessary. Lyle Berry Grand Haven Michigan

There must be controls on the explosive growth of this species. They are doing massive damage to our fisheries and habitat under their protected status. I support reducing their populations by any means neccessary. Lyle Berry Grand Haven Michigan

I too Support control on Commorants

Havign lived in Cedarville for most of my life I have seen first hand what this bird can do. I have also seen how fast a fishery can recover after just a few years of control. Please do the entire state a favor and pass the bill that would continue to use messures to control this bird. Captain Jason Perkins www.fishingwithnorm.com

These birds are destroying the islands that they are nesting on and are moving onto inland lakes as well. My northern properties are going to waste and are basically not worth the money that I pay in taxes to the state of Michigan. It's time that they are controlled or elimanated completely. Ronald Pal Macomb Township, Michigan

KILL EM ALL or at least most of them they are not good to eat so why should they eat the fish that we eat??? KILL EM ALL

I would like to see this bill supported. The devistating affect that these birdshave on the environment cannot be overstated. Their population growth continues to deplete the fisheries of our lakes and habitat of other creatures. We must continue to institute control measures where ever these birds proliferate. Thank You Chris Edwards Grand Rapids Steelheaders

This situation is extremely serious and many people are unaware of the devistation these birds cause within our great lakes fisheries. Please control this population explosion by any and all means. Please exterminate with extreme predjudice.

Please don't over look the waters of Saginaw Bay when trying to control these creatures. They've done enough damage around the state, not only to are fisheries, but look at the land they inhabit and how the plants, trees and grasses are just "DEAD". Enough is enough.

I am 100% in favor of having regulations to control the cormorant population. There is plenty of scientifc evidence to support that the cormorant population negatively affects the Great Lakes fishery.

Here in Manistee, I've watched huge flocks come in to feed on our fish. How can it be justified to have fish planted in our waters to just be eaten by these birds? What a waste of man power and money! Need Control on this problem!

they must be controlled.open a spring season like they have done in other states to control snow geese.

Bring their numbers under control. They should not be allowed to nest so densely as to eliminate vegetation from islands. Plus, they can have a huge negative impact on the sport fishery, which can hurt lots of businesses that depend on goof fishing for success.

Please support this bill. These birds are multipying at a rapid rate, creating numerous hazards, plus they are feeding on the fry and fingerlings that our fish and decimating the populations causing a crash in the eco-system fish species.

PLEASE control these birds. I support this bill 100%.

Controlling these birds is critical to our future fishery, both the Great Lakes and inland lakes. I support the use of any control method to control to drastically reduce the number of these birds. This is one invasive species we can control! Captain Gary Smith

I totally support cormorant control. In Ludington alone there are 500 nesting pairs and about 1500 birds. 1500 birds eating 1 1/2 lbs per day for 100 days is 225,000 lbs of fish. 112 tons of fish from just one port. Other colonies have 45,000 birds! In addition to fish they whitewash an island until all flora is dead. The population is out of control and decimating our other natual resources.

you planning to "control" the cormorant population without raising the ire of the "bambi-ists"? the tree huggers will be all over this one, calling us murderers.

Cormorants need polulation control started on them now for reasons many others have already posted. Please support this bill and help keep michigan a sportsmans state !

While these birds enjoyed protected status their populations grew out of control. If left unchecked they will continue to devistate the sport fishery, and the lands they habitat. It's time for the state to come up with a plan to reduce Cormarant populations.

I fully support a Cormorant control program for Michigan and the entire great lakes basin. Please step up, and do what is right to make this happen. James Allen

Please help control this protected species before they breed unchecked and destroy our fisheries. The damage done already is more than enough. Tim Stein Grand Rapids, MI

These birds have been a problem for years while our State has sat on its hands. These menacing scavengers have completely destroyed a once flourishing smallmouth bass and perch population in the Beaver Island Area. AS A SPORSTMAN AND TAXPAYER I DEMAND ACTION!

I cannot comment on how these birds have affected the fishing in the Great Lakes but I have seen first hand how they have destroyed vegetation. There is an island in Lake Michigan that once used to be lush and now is completely barren. This cannot continue to happen to our beautiful environment.

It is vitally important that the cormorant problem be abated. They are causing considerable damage to the Great Lakes fishery. I support your efforts!! WV

I definitely support controlling this menacing species which has been allowed to multiply unchecked in our great lakes area.

Protect our fisheries by controlling these menacing fish eating machines.

There are way too many of these birds. they have taken an enormous toll on the fishery. At this point their population in extremely out of control

YES! We need to control the number of these birds. Besides hurting our fish populations, I have seen the damage they can do to trees and plant life if numbers are not checked.

I have seen the amount of fish they eat and at one time saw a sflock 100yds wide and as far north and south that you could see. (that is a lot of fish eaten.