I would like to express my…

I would like to express my strong opposition to the proposal of declaring Double-crested Cormorants (DCCO) a game bird and allowing hunting of these birds in Ontario.

The OMNRF is proposing a reactionary approach to address what some people consider a problem or nuisance. Their perception of this issue is a value-judgement. The science tells us that DCCO are opportunistic feeders and will select different prey species in different situations, so sweeping generalizations like DCCO are wiping out game or commercial fish species are usually nonsensical.

Common Loons, Common Mergansers, Great Blue Herons and other bird species also eat fish, including game species. Thankfully these birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Convention Act (MBCA). If the public and commercial fishers put pressure on the OMNRF would you approach the Canadian Wildlife Service to propose the de-regulation and shooting these species in Ontario too? American White Pelicans eat game fish and are not protected by the MBCA so will you consider the shooting of them one day too?

I enjoy hunting game animals and birds and am not opposed to hunting. I eat what I bag but DCCO hunters, or anybody else for that matter, are not going to eat distasteful birds like DCCO. What is the OMNRF proposing to do about the potentially high number of DCCO carcasses left behind by hunters? Your public posting does not tell us. Since nobody will be eating these birds, this will be a 'sport hunt', but do have any idea if hunters will be willing to spend their time and money shooting something they can't eat? Have you asked the hunting community? If so, why didn't you post their answers in your porposal? Do you have any evidence to support the idea that there will be enough hunting mortality to actually help acheive population management goals for DCCO in Ontario?

Most importantly, DCCO use lakes that campers, cottagers, paddlers and sailors also use and at the same time of year. I have a great concern about the safety implications of your proposal. Hunters discharing firearms from shore or stationary boats in prime recreation seasons and locations has too much potential for conflict, injuries, or even deaths. Your regulations may speak to this but how can this be effectively enforced with your chronically under-funded conservation officers, who are already over-worked and seldom, if ever, seen on field patrols?

The OMNRF needs to abandon this ridiculous and unsafe proposal. Instead, you should spend more time and money on proactive approaches such as researching and implementing alternative methods of game bird management or focussing more on addressing the issue of invasive fish species eradication.