Overview
- The revised regulation, in force Saturday, allows targeted shooting at ponds and lakes when cormorants are shown to damage naturally occurring fish species.
- The change extends beyond commercial fish farms to include standing waters used only for angling.
- Environment Minister Tilo Kummer said the measure shields fish stocks in standing waters and cited losses of about half a million euros last year.
- Environmental groups BUND, NABU, and the Thuringian Ornithologists’ Association oppose the policy and urge non-lethal steps such as netting, with NABU’s state chair questioning its legality.
- The culling window stays limited to 16 August through 31 March under a long‑running exception, and the state paid about €80,000 in compensation last year against roughly €560,000 in recognized damage.