I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed change to the province’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act that would allow the wholesale, uncontrolled, impossible to monitor, slaughter of cormorants across the province; devastate and possibly eradicate a recovered native wildlife species; result in disturbance, destruction and death of numerous federally protected non-target bird species such as Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and White Pelicans, and endanger the public by allowing hunters to discharge firearms throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.

Cormorants are a natural part of Ontario’s rich biodiversity and an ecologically beneficial species, they are major predators of invasive fish species, like round gobies and alewives, attract other waterbirds to their nesting sites, and serve other important functions in the ecosystems they inhabit. Because they are conspicuous birds that congregate in colonies to nest on exposed islands and peninsulas, they are particularly vulnerable, being easily targeted and killed. Small congregations could be wiped out in just a few minutes or an hour, while larger colonies could be destroyed in just a few days or a week. Years of effort and thousands of dollars to recover the species will have been for nothing.