The double-breasted…

The double-breasted cormorant does fill an important ecological niche in that it feeds primarily on non-native fish species such as alewives. The proposed limits would allow entire colonies to be killed in a single day, which not only sounds cruel but could negatively impact local ecologies. Jason Weir, an associate professor of biology at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, has suggested lowering the daily limit and instituting a seasonal maximum. This seems entirely sensible as it would be more humane and prevent such extreme events from occurring, while still allowing some control of the cormorant population.

Additionally, other bird species that nest in the same areas as cormorants have breeding seasons that overlap with them (e.g., the common tern and the great blue heron). To minimize the impact on other bird species, the proposed hunting season should be changed to avoid the breeding seasons of other birds that nest in the same areas as cormorants.