Calhoun (Ala.) Journal
Senators Introduce Cormorant Relief Act to Support Catfish Farmers and Aquaculture Producers
Lee Evancho
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), along with several of their Senate colleagues, have introduced the Cormorant Relief Act, a bill aimed at restoring the authority of catfish farmers and other aquaculture producers to manage populations of double-crested cormorants—a bird species widely considered a threat to fish farming operations.
The legislation would reinstate previous U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulations, allowing aquaculture producers to cull predatory cormorants that are known to consume large quantities of fish, including catfish. Supporters of the bill argue that such measures are necessary to protect the financial viability of fish farms, particularly in states like Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi where aquaculture plays a significant role in the local economy.
Double-crested cormorants are large water birds that feed primarily on fish and are capable of consuming about a pound of fish each day. According to industry stakeholders, the growing population of these birds, combined with a lack of natural predators, has led to substantial losses across the aquaculture industry.
Senator Britt emphasized the economic importance of the catfish industry to Alabama, particularly in the state’s Black Belt region. Alabama ranks second in national catfish production and is responsible for roughly one-third of the country’s supply. Britt described the bill as “commonsense” legislation that will give producers the tools they need to combat predatory threats.
Senator Cotton echoed the need for relief, citing regulatory barriers that currently limit fish farmers from taking effective action to protect their stock. “Our bill would once again give fish farmers the ability to adequately defend their fish populations,” he said.
The bill has drawn support from other lawmakers as well, including Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who have signed on as cosponsors. In the House of Representatives, Congressman Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) is leading the effort to pass companion legislation.
The Cormorant Relief Act is the latest in a series of initiatives from Senator Britt and her colleagues aimed at supporting the aquaculture industry. In 2023, the group successfully advocated for the U.S. Department of Commerce to reverse an antidumping duty order on imported fish fillets from Vietnam. They also urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to purchase surplus domestic catfish for federal nutrition assistance programs.
While the legislation is supported by aquaculture stakeholders and lawmakers from catfish-producing states, it could draw scrutiny from wildlife conservation groups concerned about bird population control and broader ecological impacts. The bill’s future will likely depend on debates over balancing agricultural needs with environmental protections.