Cormorant Control Project Expands to Beaver Island Archipelago

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service's cormorant control efforts, which have mainly been concentrated in the Upper Peninsula, will be expanded to the Beaver Island chain this summer. There are approximately 8750 double-crested cormorant nests spread over four colonies in the Beaver Islands. The feds plan to oil all the nests that they can to prevent reproduction, and to shoot ten percent of the non-native birds, which have had a devastating impact on native fish species.

According to cormorant control activist Larry Meijer of Houghton Lake, the USDA Wildlife Service's control efforts in the Les Cheneaux Islands over the past four years have been effective. There are reportedly 3,500 fewer cormorant nests last summer than in 2003, and a forty percent increase in the number of perch of all sizes over the same period.

Studies conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Division have shown that the cormorants have depleted perch, smallmouth bass and other freshwater fish populations in the areas in which they roost.

I can personally attest to the devastating impact the cormorants have had in the Beaver Island Chain. Growing up, I would sail with my family to Beaver and Garden Islands to vacation. The perch and bass fishing was excellent, and a lot of fun. When I took my son and my father-in-law to Garden Island a couple of years ago on a guys fishing trip, not so much as a minnow could be found. The cormorants have completely ravaged the local fish population.

The same holds true in the Hessel and Cedarville areas in the Les Cheneaux Islands. What was once a world famous perch fishery has now been depleted. Fortunately, the cormorant control project is having a positive impact on the perch fishery in Hessel and Cedarville. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go ice fishing with my son Max, and my friend Todd Petersen (Woods and Waterways Development, LLC) and his son Luke earlier this month. Although we didn't catch anything, we did see a number of perch, and other anglers reported good catches.