Now 800 cormorants can be shot in the Söderhamn archipelago - decision from the county administrative board

In 2021, approximately 8,700 cormorants were inventoried in the Söderhamn archipelago, which will now be fewer.

According to the county administrative board, there are several sensitive and vulnerable areas when it comes to the fishing population in Söderhamn municipality and in the archipelago.

Bad smell and ruined archipelago islands - not reason enough

The cormorant, like all other bird species, is protected in accordance with the EU Species Protection Directive.

Yet many consider it an invasive species.

Some people think that cormorants smell bad and destroy archipelago islands.

But there is no reason for protection hunting.

- We have no legal space to grant measures against cormorants because something looks ugly or smells bad, says Elina Eriksson at the County Administrative Board in Gävleborg.

Now 800 birds can be shot and the hunt takes place between April 1 and the beginning of November.

It is the municipality and a number of local actors who will participate in the hunt.