I support the proposal. I…

I support the proposal. I also recommend establishing a cormorant population reduction in the nesting colonies on Toronto Islands and Leslie St spit in Toronto Lake Ontario waterfront. I have fishes for thirty years in Lake Ontario for salmon and trout. Invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels have already changed the food chain which has made baitfish biomass decline over more than 10 years. Over this same time cormorant numbers have skyrocketed and feed almost exclusively on salmon and trout forage, alewife most of all. Salmon stocking on both sides of the border are down 20% YOY for several years and cormorants continue to grow in numbers and have zero benefits to the environment killing trees and vegetation. While at the same time reducing game fishing quality. Sport fishing brings millions into our GTA economy through charters, boat sales, equipment, lodging, restaurants. To me it’s a no brainer to remove protection on the nuisance birds. What is worrying however is that hunters won’t be able to target these birds because of gun discharge rules. I don’t support amending discharge rules but I do support other methods for reducing cormorant #s in the GTA. Thank you for the opportunity to post my comments.