I am both shocked and…

I am both shocked and appalled by the proposal to open hunting on a recovering species! As a wildlife biologist I have found absolutely no scientific evidence that this should be allowed let alone encouraged. In fact I find it hard to see how such a proposal has even seen the light of day. The reasons given do not seem to go beyond the fact that some people don't like them because they compete with fishermen and are not aesthetically pleasing. I think it is time that we recognize that all non-human species are important to the ecological fabric of our environment and it is the height of human hubris to meddle with complex systems we barely understand.

I can only conclude that this bill has been proposed to appease hunters, fishermen and developers rather than to solve any ecological or scientific issue. We need to stop looking at our natural world as just series resources for humans to exploit and rather see ourselves as embedded and dependent on the ecological integrity of our planet. This proposal is just another example of how MNR policy is controlled by the hunting and fishing lobby. Unfortunately the department is a bastion of anachronistic attitudes which we can no longer afford. What will be next ? Hunting herons??