Comments of EBR Policy…

Comments of EBR Policy Proposal to Establish a Hunting Season for Double Crested Cormorants in Ontario.
Registry Number 013-4124

I am appalled at what MNRF is proposing here and do not support the establishment of a hunting season for double crested cormorants! Do not implement this in any part of the province!

Here is what I see as playing out here. MNRF is under pressure from certain groups to do something about double crested cormorant populations in specific locations in the province. However, MNRF recognizes that this wildlife control issue will be very controversial and could cost a lot of money. So rather than deal with this issue in a thoughtful manner, MNRF is trying to place move this issue onto the hunting community in order to insulate themselves from the controversy and possibly make some money. However, the long-term effects of this proposal could be devastating to hunting in Ontario.

Firstly, the public optics on this proposal are quite simply awful!!! Under the guise of “hunting” lets kill a species that has no value for food and let the harvest spoil. Any reasonable person would not find this proposal acceptable! This will only add fuel to the “anti-hunting” groups out there. In addition, this could move people who don’t hunt, but are not opposed to hunting at this point, to take an anti-hunting stance. The overall result could be a further decline in hunting opportunities and participation in the future. Your SPA revenues will subsequently decline.

This proposal is also inconsistent with the principles of Ontario’s Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act. Shooting a species that can’t be consumed and then allowing the carcasses to spoil does not support the concept of wise resource use that is part of Ontario’s hunting heritage. Why do you think that there is currently a provision in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act that makes it unlawful to allow spoilage. This is because it is considered an unacceptable practice from both a wildlife management and ethical hunting perspective.

This proposal would also have the effect of degrading the value of this species as an ecosystem component. Yes, this species is a problem in certain areas but it is still a part of the ecosystem and should be respected for the role that it plays. Remember, that the current problem is, to a large extent, the result of human activities. You could find that this proposal might also encourage disrespect for other species. Not a good thing as more and more species come under pressure from climate change and other human activities.

From a law enforcement perspective this proposal is quite likely to cause a lot of issues. You are going to have folks (I won’t call them “hunters”) driving around in boats blasting cormorants where ever they find them. There is going to be safety issues and possibly illegal harvesting of migratory birds. In addition, I can see rotting carcasses left in places that are not acceptable to the public. Once again, these things would add to the negative optics that this “hunting opportunity” has to the general public.

Lastly, I find it insulting to me as a Wildlife Biologist and a hunter that MNRF would propose this management action to deal with a nuisance wildlife issue. This proposal does not match up with any wildlife management principles or the reasons why I hunt!

What I would suggest is that MNRF recognize its responsibility as the provinces primary resource management agency and take the lead in managing this nuisance wildlife issue. MNRF needs to look at the science and use control methods that are humane and effective.