I do not support this…

I do not support this proposal as it is a band-aid solution to a larger problem. There are far greater impacts to commercial fishing industry and island habitat then a native bird population that is a perceived nuisance. There is no concrete, scientific evidence that reducing the double-crested cormorant population will be beneficial to the aquatic or terrestrial environment and, in fact, it may result in higher numbers of invasive fish species and negative impacts on waterfowl. This proposal suggests not all cormorants shot down will be retrieved, which may result in scavenger birds and mammals to ingest lead bullets and result in a harmful bio-accumulation in the food chain.
If this hunt were approved it would set a precedent to manage wildlife instead of addressing the pressing and often irreversible man-made contributions (e.g. habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive species etc.) leading to the initial problem. If we continue to use short-term, scientifically unsupported methods to improve the lives and lifestyles of a few special interest groups we are only creating a larger, long-term issue for all people and wildlife in Ontario and beyond.