The specimens on the Lario and in the smaller lakes
Below is the note from Stefano Simonetti, number one of the FIPSAS (Italian Federation of Sport Fishing and Underwater Activities) provincial of Lecco regarding the cormorants present in the area: “Every day we receive photographs of flocks of Cormorants on the Lario and in the smaller lakes, even today in the Garlate basin there was a gathering of hundreds of Cormorants, we are in the presence of a real invasion of ichthyophagous birds which every day cause a significant fish and economic damage. It should be noted that the previous plans envisaged a maximum number of animals that could be killed annually (between 1 October and 15 March) at a regional level of 10% of the cormorant individuals counted in the dormitories with the annual census of wintering water birds in Lombardy - International Waterbird Census”.
The counts of the last few months
The statement continues: “Since the total count in 2023 was 9439 and there were 6679 in the dormitories, we would have expected a culling plan of at least 667 animals, almost double those actually authorised. We learn, with amazement and dismay, from the opinion of ISPRA which deems the culling of only 346 Cormorants in the Lombardy region to be adequate. The IWC Report carried out in Lombardy in 2023 clearly shows that the number of cormorant heads registered in Lombardy in 2023 is equal to n. 9.439 while the average for 2002 – 2022 is n. 6.929 heads, with an average increase of 36,2%. The selective control plan which determines that only 346 animals can be killed throughout the regional territory for 2023 is clearly based on incorrect and falsely motivated data since in the Province of Lecco alone there are thousands of Cormorants and this data is also in conflict with the IWC of 2023 which appears underestimated. In addition to this, limiting the containment of the Cormorant to just five provinces (Como, Lecco Varese Bergamo and Brescia and 35 animals in Lake Monate) appears to be a further wrong decision and one that needs to be modified for an effective containment action".
The moving abilities of cormorants
“Although the 2023 IWC census carried out appears underestimated, we ask that at least the census data (9434 animals) be used to carry out (across the entire regional territory) a 10% reduction. Therefore with the selective control of at least 943 animals. Furthermore, considering the movement capabilities of this bird, control actions would be more effective if these were applied throughout the regional territory. Finally, it should be highlighted that the predatory action of the Cormorant is also spreading on the valuable type B waters, the torrential waters where every year we carry out (on behalf of the Lombardy Region) the sowing of valuable fish material such as marble trout, speaking of trout marmorata (species on the verge of extinction included in Annex 2 of Directive 92/43/EEC), it should be noted that the river stretches where this species appears to be more abundant are found in the provinces of Lodi and Cremona on the Adda River and in the province of Pavia on the Ticino River, the Cormorant control plan is not applied in any of these provinces!”.
Damage to be contained
“All of this, as well as being harmful to sport and professional fishing, to the food and wine and tourism supply chain, is an atrocious mockery. The selective control of only 346 animals in the period 2023 -2024 is essentially a violation of chapter 7 of the regional fisheries plan as it is an inadequate measure to contain damage to fishing and fish farming. The massive presence of the Cormorant in the Lario and in the waters of the Province and the selective control plan of n. 346 cormorants in five provinces is inadequate and ridiculous, furthermore, it frustrates every effort to increase the fish stock carried out by volunteers with environmental redevelopment programs and ichthyogenic works. We have repeatedly asked the Lombardy Region and Councilor Beduschi to communicate with ISPRA for an increase in the number of animals to be killed, however, taking note that not even the IWC 2023 report is being correctly considered worries us. If the Lombardy Region deems it essential to mitigate the pressure exerted by the Cormorant, to avoid fish damage and involutions that are difficult to reverse, it must do more! The now massive presence of the Cormorant throughout the regional territory and on the Lario in particular requires us to ask Councilor Beduschi, but also Councilor Fermi, Undersecretary Piazza, as well as all the representatives of our territory in the Region for an intervention urgent, so that a corrective is made to this decision which appears incorrect, inadequate, harmful and potentially illegitimate".