Cormorant hazing aims to protect young fish, April 2

Hazing of double-crested cormorants is set to begin soon in several areas along the Oregon Coast to improve survival of juvenile salmon and steelhead. Double-crested cormorants are goose-sized, fish-eating waterbirds that occur throughout Oregon, and are particularly prevalent in the state’s estuaries during April through September. Research indicates cormorants may eat significant numbers of juvenile salmon and steelhead that migrate to the ocean during this time. To reduce threat to young fish, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with several nonprofit and local governmental organizations to haze cormorants in six coastal estuaries over the next two to four months. Hazing will involve driving at the birds in small boats and, in some estuaries, firing at them with small pyrotechnics. Hazing workers are being provided by the Clatsop County Fisheries Project, Port of Nehalem, Port of Bandon, North Coast Salmon and Steelhead Enhancement Fund, and Alsea Sportsmen’s Association. ODFW will provide a portion of the funding and program oversight, and will conduct some hazing operations itself to protect hatchery releases on Young’s Bay on the Columbia River. Hazing will take place as early as April 1 and continue through May 31 in the Nehalem, Nestucca, and Coquille river estuaries and in Tillamook and Alsea bays.