Cormorant control was also a topic of further training for professional hunters.
Our fishermen, who are also active in winter, have continuously assisted our professional fish guards in previous years with information on the appearance of large cormorant flocks. Our association, taking into account the available personal and material conditions, tried to reduce the damage to cormorant flocks that appear in winter and overwinter, during which the alarm and thinning took place - under strict conditions set out in the official permit - with the frequent and active help of professional hunters in the hunting areas.
Our fish guards and their helpers have tried to reduce the number of great cormorants on several occasions, from shore and boat, using various methods, which was possible according to the official decision until March 31. The number of cormorants caught during the reductions is naturally much more modest than in other water areas affected by larger flocks of birds (e.g. Balaton, Danube), averaging between 70 and 90 individuals per year.
Our association is constantly looking for opportunities to carry out more efficient but professional thinning activities, so we gratefully accepted the opportunity provided by the Vas County Regional Organization of the National Hungarian Hunting Chamber , during which we were able to inform those most affected about the possibilities of legally permitted thinning of the great cormorant during the mandatory further training of professional hunters operating in the county.
The 83 professional hunters and nearly 20 official representatives related to the sector attended and heard interesting and meaningful presentations:
the role of drones in wildlife management;
Vas County's 2024/25 game management data and current legislative changes;
about newly emerging viral diseases that also threaten wildlife and about the possibilities for protection and prevention;
on the use and benefits of a comprehensive electronic wildlife management record system.
On behalf of our association , József Mesterházy, fish management group leader, provided information to those present about the legal possibilities for cormorant control, the relevant conditions, the recognition of the highly protected little cormorant, and the results of the activities of recent years, thanking the participating professional hunters for their help and highlighting the correct professional relationship established with the participating licensing authorities and the nature conservation manager.
On behalf of our association, we would like to thank the county Hunting Chamber for the opportunity and the professional hunters participating in the cormorant reduction for their help!
