This is what I know about the government side of controlling birds like cormorants. Fish farmers and state and federal hatcheries can get depredarion permits to control them (keep them from eating their fish). Also some state agencies have gotten permits to thin out the populations but the rules and restrictions on these permits make it tough. Apparently someone has sued the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for not checking up enough on the permittees and making sure that they are complying with the strict regulations. We have been told that this will not affect us immediately buy after 30 days, when something in court happens, the people with these permits (at least government agencies) will not be able to defend their fish crops. I asked if these permits could be expanded to controlling them in lakes and I was told, not likely anytime soon.