While in general I am a…

While in general I am a proponent of hunting, I do not agree with the proposed establishment of a hunting season on the double-crested cormorant in Ontario.

In reading through the current proposal, I struggled to find out why the hunt was being proposed - what harm was being caused by the cormorant population. In my opinion, the concerns raised (impact on fish, other species and aesthetics) makes for a weak rationale with no supporting scientific information or data.

The parameters of the hunt seem rather arbitrary (9-month season, 50 bird per day limit) with no stated objective as to what the current cormorant population is and what population targets have been set to achieve whatever the desired effect is. In addition to this lack of clear reason for the hunt, the predicted impact is expected to be neutral at best. I do not think it is wise to make major changes to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act with provisions to allow the meat to spoil based on a weak rationale that is not supported by evidence and for which there are not significant benefits expected.