I am shocked that the…

I am shocked that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is proposing a virtually unlimited lethal intervention to control the population of the double crested cormorant. No scientific proof has been provided to support the two main reasons that are cited to justify the proposed hunt – namely the claims of the commercial fishing industry and private property owners that cormorants are detrimental to island forest habitats, other species and aesthetics.

Anyone who has seen a cormorant colony will know that their feces are toxic and can destroy trees and other plant life. This in itself is no reason to allow hunters to have the ability to kill up to 50 birds a day with no season limit anywhere in Ontario.

The fishing industry has indicated that the cormorant is a threat to commercial fishing. However, much of the food sources for the cormorant are invasive, non-native fish species, such as the goby, that actually have a negative impact on sport fish, such as small mouth bass.

There may be cases where a cormorant colony threatens a species at risk. In these limited cases, it may be warranted to control a local cormorant population. However, there are many alternatives to a wide-spread virtually uncontrolled hunt. Any alternative proposal should be supported by scientific evidence that there is a problem in the first place.

Other aspects of this proposal that are unsupported and/or may set dangerous precedents for other species include:

• 50 day bag limit with no overall season limit
• No limitation to geography
• Allowing hunters to hunt from boats
• Eliminating the obligation for hunters to recover the carcasses of the birds they kill
• Potential disruption and impact on populations of other water fowl, including great blue herons that nest in the same locations

I believe this proposal should not be implemented. If sufficient scientific evidence can be presented that demonstrates specific situations where the double crested cormorant is threatening species at risk, then a proposal should be brought forward that uses other non-lethal methods to limit the impact of specific colonies that pose the threat. Such as proposal should us other methods such as oiling eggs, introduction of birds of prey, and relocating/removing nests. Only if these other methods are not successful should a limited hunt be recommended.