I do not think the lack of predator argument really applies here. What eats adult cormorants? Bald eagles, great horned owls, and coyotes are the top predators of adults and raccoons (mainly) eat the chicks/eggs. Not sure about where everybody else lives, but here in CT/MA there are more bald eagles, coyotes, and raccoons then ever. Not sure about great horned owls. I hate cormorants as well, but what predator would we like to see more of to control the population?