The Ministry of Ecology's aberrant project: an emergency for the survival of great cormorants
At this very moment, citizens are being invited to have their say: in its forthcoming decree, the Ministry of Ecological Transition is setting the conditions and limits to facilitate the unlimited slaughter of these large black birds. In reality, the aim is to meet the demands of fish farming professionals, worried about their farms, without taking into account the illegality of the measure concerning this protected species. We have decided to attack.
A departmental threshold and a largely extended destruction period
Although their numbers are close to 100,000 individuals in France, the future ministerial decree envisages a ceiling of 20% of birds killed in each department.
Prefects would then hold all the cards to authorize their slaughter from the opening of the hunting season to April 30 each year, to the detriment of legislative prohibitions. This is a direct threat to the survival of adults and young birds, only 60% of which make it through their first wintering season.
These decisions would appear to be made solely by lobbies, directly benefiting their economy.
False impact of feathered targets on finned animals
There is no evidence to support the claim that the loss of halieutic “resources” is linked to catches by great cormorants: external factors are having a negative impact on their survival. Climate change, seaweed proliferation in summer, feasting by other fish eaters, water pollution and stress are all factors favoring their disappearance… Surprising, given that these individuals with their fine yellow beaks feed mainly on exotic fish!
In view of all these inconsistencies and the alternative solutions available, we are challenging the Ministry’s plan. Like One Voice, join the fight against the government’s plan to massacre great cormorants by contributing directly to the public consultation open until November 8.