I object to this proposal…

I object to this proposal for the following reasons:
• This proposal has not provided sufficient evidence that there is a biological need to control cormorant populations. The proposal states that “the latest information indicating Great Lakes populations have since stabilized or declined slightly”. The Minister misled the public when on CBC radio he discussed cormorant diet and inferred their average consumption of 1 kg/day was of game fish. Peer reviewed scientific studies have indicated that cormorant diets vary locally and are dominated by non-game fish species. I am not aware of any studies that have demonstrated lake wide harmful impacts to fish populations attributable to cormorants
• Allowing hunting of cormorants during the breeding season of many other colonial nesting birds and other rare birds that share these nesting islands will cause disturbance to non-target species resulting in lower nest success and possible abandonment of nesting sites over the long term. For example, piping plovers have been recently recorded at the Limestone Islands Provincial Park. Cormorants also nest there and on several other islands in the vicinity. Allowing cormorant hunting in these areas during the nesting season may prevent successful reproduction of plovers, or the re-establishment of other nesting sites in the area
• Despite regulations, it is unethical to hunt and harvest wildlife only to let it spoil
• Allowing a bag limit of 50 birds is not consistent with sport hunting in Ontario. This magnitude of harvest is not consistent with sustainable harvesting
• Encouraging hunters to participate in the mass killing of cormorants will denigrate hunters in the minds of the public and towards hunting in general. This is not what we want in Ontario
• Many nesting colonies are in remote locations. There will not be sufficient enforcement at these locations to ensure hunters do not leave carcasses at the kill site or floating in the waters around the colonies
• Existing legislation already allows a property owner to seek authority to harass cormorants on private property in order to protect valuable vegetation
• I believe that the environmental consequences of this proposal would be negative for the biological and social reasons stated above. It should not be approved