I absolutely do not support…

I absolutely do not support this proposal, for the following reasons:

1) There seems to be (at least available to the public) little to no scientific analysis indicating that Ontario's cormorant populations are unsustainable. Rather, I suspect the driving force behind this proposal is pressure primarily from the OFAH. I'm sure I don't have to tell the MNRF that the claims made by the OFAH are far from objective and ecologically-minded. It is the duty of the MNRF to manage natural resources for all Ontarians, not just for those who are interested in exploiting them.

2) Even in the event that cormorant control is warranted, I am shocked and disappointed to see the proposed exemption allowing hunters to legally spoil the meat. This is not a proposed hunt so much as a proposed cull. Call it what it is, because we all know most (if not all) hunters partaking in cormorant control will not be consuming the meat. This is not only unsportsmanlike, it is irresponsible resource management.

3) The MNRF must have to foresight to predict the hundreds of thousands of pounds of cormorant carcasses being left on beaches, in wetlands, and floating in water bodies as a result of the harvest exemption. If hunters are allowed to spoil the birds, how inclined do you think they will be to go out and collect them once shot? Aside from the immediate issues of decomposing carcasses, there will be increased exposure to disease, bacteria and parasites to other species in the environment as a result of the abandoned cormorant carcasses.

Please consider the broad consequences of this proposal. I recognize the appeal of a low cost cormorant reduction strategy, but this is surely the wrong way to do it.

Sincerely,
A concerned biologist.