Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo carbo and P. c. sinensis may cause problems at individual fisheries or fish farms, by damaging stocks of fish and by reducing catches. Like all wild birds, these piscivorous (fish-eating) birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and cannot be killed, or their eggs or nests (when in use or being built) taken or destroyed, except under licence. The purpose of this leaflet is to help fishery owners and managers in England to consider ways in which a problem caused by cormorants might be addressed and to outline the licensing system under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Please click on the link below to view the associated PDF: