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Conservation

Breadcrumbs

Wildlife Management and Licensing: Fish-eating birds

Cormorants

legal status

This section describes the management and licensing arrangements for fish-eating birds (e.g. cormorants, herons, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers). Separate licensing arrangements apply to general licence birds, game birds and other birds.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (WCA 1981) provides that all wild birds are protected and cannot be killed or taken except under licence.

Licences may be issued by the Wildlife Management and Licensing Service under section 16(1) of the WCA 1981 to kill or take wild birds where there is no other satisfactory solution for the purpose of preventing serious damage to fisheries or inland waters. They may also be issued in relation to science or education, or for conserving flora (plants) or fauna (animals).

Advice & leaflets - resolving problems involving fish-eating birds

It may be possible to resolve a problem without recourse to a licence. Advisory leaflets are available which describe some of the options. There are also a series of answers to frequently asked questions PDF [398 kB] which may be of assistance. If you require additional guidance contact us. We will either assist you directly or put you in touch with your local Wildlife Adviser. Advisers can offer more specific guidance to you over the telephone. The cormorants.info website provides further guidance on resolving problems.

Trout with cormorant stab wounds

How to apply for a licence

If you wish to apply for a licence for fish-eating birds please complete the relevant form:

  • for cases in relation to damage to fisheries WML-A06 PDF
  • for cases regarding science, education or conservation WML-A33 PDF

In most cases completed applications should be posted to the address on the form. Please note that we are currently updating all our forms to allow electronic submission. In urgent cases, applications may be accepted by facsimile. If you are unable to download a form they can be obtained directly from the Wildlife Management and Licensing Service. There is no charge for this licence or for advice.

Following receipt of your completed application, a Wildlife Adviser may contact you to discuss your case and possibly to arrange a visit to the site where the problem is occurring. The Adviser will assess the situation and provide guidance on the remedial options available.

We aim to process licence applications within 30 working days from date of receipt for fishery cases and 15 days for science, education or conservation cases.

See also, reports on licensed shooting and monitoring of piscivorous bird licences in Defra's Published reports

Cormorants

Defra announced on 16 September 2004, new measures to help control the cormorant population which had grown significantly and whose feeding habits are damaging fish stocks and recreational fishing activities. See: