CorMan The new European Commission funded initiative

1. CorMan The new European Commission funded initiative Ornis Committee Meeting, Brussels 14 October 2011

2. Thomas Bregnballe, Aarhus University, Denmark & David N. Carss, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, NERC, UK

3. Contents Picture excluded from version available for the minutes The initiatives Organisation and deliverables The EU Cormorant Platform Monitoring of population size and distribution of Cormorants

4. In response to the Resolution of the European Parliament concerning the impact of Cormorants, the Commission launched two initiatives: The initiatives • A guidance document on implementation of Article 9 • - Comments from the Ornis Committee • - The current second draft will become open to public consultation before finalized IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

5. To hire a contractor • To develop an internet platform for dissemination of information • To organise pan-European monitoring of the Cormorant population during breeding and in winter The second initiative IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

6. CONSORTIUM SUBCON-TRACTORS Aarhus University Consultants Research Institutes CEH, NERC The major contributors Cormorant Research Group IUCN / Wetlands International Cormorant Platform Counts of Cormorants Stakeholders’ Liasion Group Individual countries Volunteers

7. The aim of the Platform is to ease the access to information about • Cormorant migration and ecology • Development in Cormorant numbers and distribution at European and national levels • Interactions with fisheries • Experience with management and best practice on reducing impacts (a toolbox) The EU Cormorant Platform IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

8. Services to be made available on the Platform • Frequently Asked Questions • Literature database • Links to INTERCAFE reports • Links to home pages of relevant stakeholders’ organisations The EU Cormorant Platform IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

9. Denmark Finland Examples – Population development Source: Bregnballe, T., Aarhus University Source: Finnish Environment Institute, SYKE Certain graphs excluded from version available for the minutes IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

10. Course in Wildlife Ecology and Management, spring 2011, Block 5: Cormorants: Population ecology, modelling and management AARHUS UNIVERSITY, National Environmental Research Institute Distribution and size of breeding colonies in Denmark 2011 xx Source: Bregnballe, T., Aarhus University

11. Distribution of breeding cormorants in Europe Map excluded from version available for the minutes

12. Geographical origin of ringed cormorants found dead in Italy Da: Atlante Migrazione Uccelli in Italia

13. Monitoring of CormorantsThe aim is: To organise counts of breeding and wintering Great Cormorants in the Western Palearctic in collaboration with the IUCN-Wetlands International Cormorant Research Group To analyse the majort results and make them available through the EU Cormorant Platform IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

14. A count of all breeding colonies in 2012 Cormorant counts in the Western Palearctic – Organised by the EC initiative CorMan in collaboration with the IUCN-Wetlands International Cormorant Research Group

15. A count of night roosts in January 2013 Cormorant counts in the Western Palearctic – Organised by the EC initiative CorMan in collaboration with the IUCN-Wetlands International Cormorant Research Group

16. How will the counts be organised? The project has designated 2-3 coordinators within 4 regions Map excluded from version available for the minutes Regions Regional coordinators will establish and maintain contact with national coordinators National coordinators can be institutions or persons with esperience from earlier counts of Cormorants Cormorant counts in the Western Palearctic – Organised by the EC initiative CorMan in collaboration with the IUCN-Wetlands International Cormorant Research Group

17. Communication with reporters and handling of data A project home page has been developed. It offers facilities for the coordinators and the counters It includes a facility for entering counts directly and denoting the location of the counted site by use of Google Maps Rules for use of count results will be agreed with each country

18. Present results on a pan-European level Map excluded from version available for the minutes

19. The EC will highly appreciate that Member States will try to contribute to the national counts of breeding colonies and of wintering Cormorants • Authorities may: • - Assist with contact to local authorities who can support with counts in national parks, reserves and on national property • - Assist with funding for organisation and publication of results of counts at the national level Governmental authorities in the European Union Member States will soon receive a letter from DG Environment informing the MS about the planned counts and that assistance will be appreciated IN CONTRACT BY AARHUS UNIVERSITY AND CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT N° 07-0307/ 2010/575579/SER/B3

20. Course in Wildlife Ecology and Management, spring 2011, Block 5: Cormorants: Population ecology, modelling and management AARHUS UNIVERSITY, National Environmental Research Institute Thank you !