Migratory Bird Permits; Management of Conflicts Associated With Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) Throughout the United States

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) establishes a new permit for State and federally recognized Tribal (hereafter "Tribe" or "Tribal") fish and wildlife agencies for the management of double- crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; hereafter "cormorants"). The new permit authorizes specific take activities that are normally prohibited and are intended to relieve or prevent impacts from cormorants on lands or in waters managed by State or Tribal fish and wildlife agencies to address conflicts related to the following issues: Wild and publicly stocked fish managed by State fish and wildlife agencies or federally recognized Tribes; Tribal- and State-owned or operated aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries); human health and safety; State- or Tribal-owned property and assets; and threatened and endangered species (listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, or identified in State- or Tribal-specific legislation as threatened or endangered) or those listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in State Wildlife Action Plans. The Service retains ultimate authority for regulating the take of cormorants. States and Tribes have the discretion to determine whether, when, where, and for which of the above purposes they conduct lethal take within limits and allocations set by the Service.