The European Commission has invited all concerned Member States to engage in a structured dialogue and explore the challenges they might have in managing conflicts with Great Cormorant populations and fisheries.

The management of conflicts may benefit from a collaborative and cross-border approach. To support these efforts, the Commission is organising a dedicated meeting to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue with and among EU Member States.  

The discussions will focus on:-

1. Reviewing all available information about population sizes and trends, the use of derogations from the general protection regime under the Birds Directive, and the main issues encountered;
2. Discussing the administrative and coordination challenges related to derogations and conflict management. This includes sharing best practices and building on past efforts to determine how the Commission can best support national authorities. 

The meeting will take place on Tuesday (28 Oct) in Brussels.

Background

In recent years, the populations of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) have increased in some European regions, leading to increased local conflicts with fishing activities, including aquaculture and recreational angling. 

The Birds Directive protects all species of birds naturally occurring in the wild in the EU, including the Great Cormorant. However, the Directive allows the flexibility to derogate from the general protection regime to prevent serious damage to fisheries, which is used by many Member States. 

At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in September 2025, Sweden urged the Commission to classify the Great Cormorant as a huntable species and coordinate the management of its populations at the EU level. This strategic dialogue is an immediate follow-up to this discussion.