Skip to content

30 Experts From 18 Countries Advanced Plans for a European Cormorant Advisory Group

Great Cormorant at Travemünde, Germany
Conservation · Management

An online meeting on 9 July 2026 brought together 30 experts from 18 European countries to prepare the proposed Cormorant Management Advisory Group (CMAG), a scientific and technical body intended to support coordinated management of great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) issues across Europe.

The European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC) convened the meeting, with representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) also taking part. The meeting followed publication of EIFAAC’s framework for a European management plan for the great cormorant.

Governance, observers and a 24-month workplan

Participants reviewed the draft Terms of Reference for CMAG and discussed how the group should be composed and governed. They agreed on a list of international organizations to invite as observers and considered options for hosting both the inaugural CMAG meeting and a future secretariat.

EIFAAC reported broad support for establishing CMAG as an independent scientific and technical advisory body. The proposed first 24-month workplan also received strong support. Its priorities include harmonized monitoring and reporting protocols, an open-access European information platform, stronger cooperation on assessments of cormorant and fish populations, improved socioeconomic impact assessments and support for coordinated management actions among European countries.

CMAG had not yet been formally established

The 9 July meeting was preparatory rather than the formal launch of the advisory group. Its outcomes were to feed into the Thirty-third Session of EIFAAC in Riga, Latvia, in October 2026. At that session, members were expected to consider both endorsement of the European management framework and formal establishment of CMAG.

EIFAAC asked countries to comment on the draft Terms of Reference and workplan and to submit offers to host the inaugural meeting and the secretariat by the end of August. The July meeting therefore moved the proposal from a framework-level idea toward a defined governance structure and initial work programme, but it did not itself create the advisory group.

Sources and image credit

  1. European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission. (2026, July 14). EIFAAC advances preparations for European Cormorant Management Advisory Group.Primary EIFAAC report published 14 July 2026 on the online preparatory CMAG meeting held 9 July. Thirty experts from 18 European countries, together with DG MARE and DG ENV representatives, reviewed governance, observers, hosting and a proposed 24-month workplan. Formal establishment of CMAG remained pending the October 2026 EIFAAC session.

Image: Hobbyfotowiki / Wikimedia Commons — Great Cormorant photographed at Travemünde, Germany. Representative image, not from the online EIFAAC meeting. · CC0 1.0 · Source

About this content: This story was produced with AI assistance within an editorial workflow developed by Wildlife Vagabond. Editorial responsibility remains with Wildlife Vagabond.How AI is used

Management

SPECIES IN THIS STORY

Species in this story

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Explore species

Independent research and conservation news archive

Did you find this information useful?

Wildlife Vagabond is independently built and maintained. Voluntary support helps cover source verification, hosting and continued work on research and conservation news.

Support Wildlife Vagabond

The news archive will remain freely available.