I am NOT in support of the…

I am NOT in support of the proposal for hunting cormorants at this time due to the following:

1. The environmental reasons for culling the population are light, with the benefits mostly serving sports fishermen or those who live near the shoreline. This is not enough justification for a culling program, especially one as aggressive as this one.
More information needs to be provided on SPECIFIC impacts to the environment. For example, what % of the shoreline is affected and in what areas? What animal species are impacted and how?

2. The proposal lacks specific controls to protect the Cormorant population
2a: A hunting season from March to December is very long, increasing the risk of exceeding proposed targets
2b: There is no pre-set culling time period of 1 year or 2 years. Should populations become at-risk, it would require a new proposal, studies and approvals which are more time consuming than having a pre-set date for assessment and review.
2c: What happens if and when entire flocks are eradicated?

3. There is little information provided on how culling will be monitored
3a: How will the Government track the number of birds killed and what funding is provided regarding same?

4. Information is missing on how people will be protected
4a: Cormorants inhabit many areas enjoyed by Ontarian's, not all of which are on protected land. Hunting from boats, for example, can increase the risk to those enjoying the same areas as these birds