Operational Activities: Aquaculture

Last Modified: August 21, 2025

Aquaculture is an important industry in the United States. However, wildlife depredation, especially by fish-eating birds, can significantly impact production.

Wildlife Services (WS) provides Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts that threaten U.S. agricultural resources. Our wildlife biologists and technicians work nationwide to protect agricultural crops and aquaculture from damage caused by wild animals.

Our Services

We support the aquaculture industry and stakeholders with the following services:

  • Helping producers obtain and renew migratory bird depredation permits
  • Providing technical assistance
  • Using integrated damage management tools (harassment/removal)
  • Conducting surveillance

This includes assistance to anglers, baitfish and crawfish producers, catfish farmers, fish hatcheries, sport fish producers for pond stocking, and tropical fish producers. 

We also conduct outreach and research and collaborate with Federal regulatory agencies. For example, WS biologists conduct damage evaluations to provide information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State wildlife agency as part of their permit processes.

Learn More About the Migratory Bird Depredation Permit Process

Resources

Fish-Eating Birds: Species Factsheets

This factsheet series offers general information about fish-eating birds by species.
Aquaculture Research

Learn how WS' National Wildlife Research Center develops methods and information to reduce avian predation in aquaculture. 

two men using a net to take fish from a tank
Depredation Orders for Double-Crested Cormorants
Learn about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's aquaculture depredation order and how it aids work to control double-crested cormorant populations in certain States.
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