Special Bulletin

Wisconsin Cormorant Control Bill - AB 486 approved by State Legislature!

Now we need the Governor’s signature

 

Last year, Rep. Karl Van Roy (R-Howard) introduced Assembly Bill 486 which calls on the Wisconsin DNR to work in collaboration with federal agencies to create and administer a double-crested cormorant control program.   

Assembly Bill 486 now has successfully passed both houses of the legislature with overwhelming bi-partisan support. However, it's time for those of us concerned about fishing in the Green Bay and Door County areas to contact Governor Jim Doyle and encourage him to sign this bill into law. 

 This bill came at our request - yours and mine - after months of research proving that cormorants not only decimate fish populations, like the yellow perch, but also destroy island ecology and nesting habitat for several endangered or threatened birds. The DNR in New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont and other Great Lakes States are already controlling their cormorant populations and it's working, while the Wisconsin DNR has been slow to recognize that we have a problem

 The DNR has told us that they need to be prepared with everything by April 1 if we want to start a control program in 2006, as the cormorants could begin to arrive anytime after that.  Therefore, we need immediate action on this bill if we want the DNR to start the control plan this year.

 Show your support for the cormorant control effort by contacting Governor Jim Doyle and asking him to sign AB 486 into law and to do it soon so the DNR can start the program this spring.

 There are three ways to contact Governor Doyle:

1)  Call the Governor's office at 608-266-0616 

2)  Email the Governor at Governor@wisconsin.gov   and CC: the message to Dan.Herzig@wisconsin.gov

3)  Write to the Governor at: Office of the Governor, Governor Jim Doyle, Room 115 East State Capitol, Madison, WI 53702

 In all cases you should state the following:

1)  Your name and address   

2)  That you want Governor Doyle to sign AB 486 soon

3)  Why this bill is important to you

 Dan Thomas, President

Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council