The best source of information on the population status of Double-crested Cormorant in Canada is the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Although it samples coastal areas poorly, it provides good coverage of the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region, which supports a large proportion of the population. Overall, coverage is therefore high, and precision of the estimates is also high. The BBS indicates a large increase relative to 1970, with the population having grown by over 500% since then. Among regions with medium or high precision in trends, the increase has been greatest in the lower Great Lakes, and most modest in the Maritimes. The only region showing a slight long-term decrease is along the Pacific Coast, but precision of that trend is low. The continental Christmas Bird Count trend also shows a large increase, of nearly 2000% since 1970.

The goal for Double-crested Cormorant is to remain at or above its recent population level, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Although there are localized concerns about population growth and hunting is permitted in several provinces, at this point an overall cap on growth is not warranted. Trend data show that Double-crested Cormorant is currently within its goal range.