The cormorants have returned to Luxembourg
Matt Bango, Unsplash
In response to a parliamentary enquiry on the impact of cormorants on Luxembourg's ecosystems, the Minister of Ecology, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, presented an analysis of the situation that is of concern to ornithologists and fishermen alike.
The Cormorant, or Cormoran, which had long been absent from the region due to systematic extermination, has been active in Luxembourg since the 1990s. No breeding colonies were documented until 2023, but by the end of 2023, two had appeared: at Haff Réimech and Hëttermillen. Thus, this bird is now officially considered a breeding bird in the country.
According to the Central Ornithological Organisation of Luxembourg (COL), the winter population of cormorants ranges from 250 to 500 individuals depending on the month and weather conditions. However, the minister emphasised that no significant increase in the number of birds has been recorded since 2020.
The main concern of parliamentarians was the potential negative impact of cormorants on fish stocks. However, Serge Wilmes pointed to more serious problems: poor water quality and degradation of natural river structures. Factors such as pollution and loss of natural shelter for fish pose a greater threat to fish stocks than cormorants, which merely act as natural predators.
To address the problems of fish stocks and ecosystems in general, the government is planning:
- Improve water quality in water bodies.
- Renature river ecosystems by restoring their natural structures.
Thus, under current conditions, the Minister sees no need to regulate cormorant numbers. Instead, efforts will focus on ecosystem restoration, which will allow both fish and birds to coexist without serious harm.
