Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026

This bill establishes a regional management framework for double-crested cormorants across four U.S. flyways, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to develop plans within 180 days that specify allowed hunting methods, time periods, and authorized entities including state and tribal agencies, lake managers, and pond managers. The framework must ensure cormorant populations remain sustainable while addressing impacts on fisheries, vegetation, other bird species, human safety, water quality, and endangered species. The bill mandates population surveys every five years and requires the management plans to be reviewed and updated every five years based on survey results and current data.