As a scientific researcher,…

As a scientific researcher, I have some comments to add and take into consideration when proposing a hunting season for double-crested cormorants.
-The proposed open hunting season for cormorants is proposed from March - December. This encompasses the entire breeding season of cormorants (mid April to mid June in Ontario). This means that even if only adult cormorants are shot, nests will be abandoned influencing future generations of cormorants as well. While I recognize this may the goal of population control, there is no research currently showing how much of an influence this will be.
-The proposed bag limit is higher than any game bird species. A bag limit of 50 cormorants per hunter per day could wipe out entire colonies.
-Cormorants do not normally nest alone so on mixed species colonies there is a potential disturbance to habitat for species under the Migratory Bird Act (e.g. gulls, terns).
-Yes, cormorant numbers have increased since the 1970s but that is because their population was almost decimated by contaminants such as DDT and they are native to Ontario.
-Yes, cormorants eat fish almost exclusively. But some of the species they are eating are invasive (e.g. alewife and round goby).
I am not saying that there shouldn’t be any population control - OMNRF has a responsibility to manage our natural resources. But I am strongly recommending they use an evidence-based approach and carefully consider the scientific research that could influence a change in the proposed regulations.