U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Tom Cotton Introduce Effort to Allow Fish Farmers to Protect Ponds from Predatory Cormorants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and several of their Senate colleagues introduced the Cormorant Relief Act, legislation that would fully restore the ability of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to cull predatory double-crested cormorant populations.

“Every year, Alabama’s catfish farmers battle predatory double-crested cormorants in addition to the high input costs and overreaching regulations experienced by our entire agriculture industry. This commonsense bill allows our aquaculture producers the ability to better manage these cormorants that cause millions of dollars of losses year after year. Catfish is a vital part of our state’s economy, and I will always support our hardworking farmers and processors,” said Senator Britt.

The legislation would restore U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations to allow producers to fight the cormorants, which threaten the livelihoods of aquaculture operations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states.

“Double-crested cormorants pose a significant threat to Arkansas’s fish farmers, but unnecessary regulation currently prevents them from taking additional steps to protect their ponds. Our bill would once again give fish farmers the ability to adequately defend their fish populations from the birds that are eating into their bottom line,” said Senator Cotton.

Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) are also cosponsors of the Cormorant Relief Act, and Congressman Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) is leading companion legislation in the House. 

The double-crested cormorant is a large water bird that feeds primarily on fish, including catfish, and consumes approximately a pound of fish per day. The cormorant population in North America has been increasing for decades as they have no natural predators and a growing prey base. As a result, these birds cause millions of dollars in losses across the aquaculture industry each year. 

Catfish is a huge part of Alabama’s agricultural economy, especially in Black Belt counties in the western part of the state. It is the eighth largest crop for the state. Alabama produces roughly 1/3 of catfish for the nation, and the state ranks second in production overall. “Our great state is proud to be one of the top catfish producers in the nation. I will continue fighting for this tremendous industry that supports Alabama jobs, contributes to local communities, and provides delicious, nutritious food for American families,” Senator Britt previously stated.

Senator Britt has been an advocate for the industry. Last year, Senators Britt, Hyde-Smith, Tuberville, and Wicker were able to successfully advocate for the U.S. Commerce Department to reverse its antidumping duty order on U.S. imports of Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Senators Britt, Hyde-Smith, and Wicker were also successful in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to purchase surplus domestic catfish in January 2023 for distribution across nutrition assistance programs.

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