Cormorant Watch

Hi,

I know I am undoubtedly opening a massive can or worms here but a work colleague who like a spot of angling has pointed out a website ( http://www.cormorantwatch.org/) for anglers to enter sightings of cormorants , mergansers and goosanders as part of our on going debate on the issues of cormorants ( vermin  he describes them as ....more than a little unfair I feel). 

Yes i know about the angling communities dislike of the cormorant and about the whole thing about shooting them.

I just was wondering , as I am very much confused by the cormorants protection status , if someone could fill me in and  also wanted to see how people felt about the issue of gossanders and mergansers being " lumped in" with the cormorant in a drive to "persuading the Fisheries Minister  to carry out a review of the licensing procedures" and  to take “bold decisions”.

Do others think this "bold decision" could mean we might , in the future see a cull of cormorants et al ?