Ecosure was engaged by three councils to prepare a Cormorant Management Strategy to mitigate issues associated with Australian pied cormorants (Phalacrocorax varius) and black-faced cormorants (Phalacrocorax fuscescens) in coastal townships and production areas on Yorke Peninsula.   

Ecosure is a recognised industry leader in human-wildlife-conflict and co-existence, an area we have been engaged in for more than 20 years. Our team has an intimate knowledge of waterbirds, coastal bird surveys, stakeholder engagement, preparing strategies and management plans and assisting their implementation.   Wildlife Biologists Jess Bracks (Ecosure) and Jordan Scott (Avisure) recently visited the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia.

Cormorant activity has resulted in impacts to coastal fisheries, restaurants and other local businesses, the use of public parklands, and reduced amenity for residents and visitors. Whitewash (excrement) has caused corrosion of infrastructure, concerns about zoonoses, and resulted in substantial clean-up costs to councils, local business operators and residents. The strategy aims to reduce impacts of cormorants on communities, industry and aquaculture, whilst ensuring cormorant conservation.

 Our Wildlife Biologists conducted a week-long site visit to various locations on Yorke Peninsula to determine the scope of the issue and develop suitable impact mitigation strategies. Alongside affected councils, we also facilitated community and stakeholder workshops and an online survey to engage with the community and understand the nature of impacts.
 
Data gathered will be used alongside our expertise in wildlife management and human-wildlife conflict mitigation to develop a long-term strategy to sustainably manage cormorant populations on the Yorke Peninsula, and reduce impacts to the local community, businesses, landscapes and infrastructure.