Feedback and Public Comment…

Feedback and Public Comment
OMNRF Wildlife Policy Proposal ERO# 013-4124
Fish and wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
ERO# 013-4124 Proposal to list Double-Crested Cormorant as a game bird and create a hunting season in Ontario for population management.

The following submission represents the consensus of views of members of Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassador (TUFA).

Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassador (TUFA) is an organization that promotes recreational fishing in the City of Toronto and GTA. We teach fishing knowledge, skills, etiquette, ethics and conservation. We work to protect urban anglers continued rights to access Toronto’s watersheds and shorelines. As stewards of our sport we support and actively participate in the conservation of Toronto’s growing fisheries, fisheries biodiversity and the protection of watersheds and fish habitat. We have more than 2300 members on social media Facebook. Approximately 1800 of those members actually fish in Toronto and the GTA and are current Ontario Outdoors Card and Fishing License holders.

The areas we recreational fish encompasses Zone 20 Lake Ontario and Zone 16 Inland Waters. Lake Ontario provides the bulk of our fishing opportunities and fisheries. There are nine Lake Ontario Tributaries that flow through the GTA that have recreational fishing value. We have several storm water ponds scattered throughout the GTA. A few natural ponds and very small lakes across the top borders of the GTA.

Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassador (TUFA) Stance on the Cormorant Management Proposal:

Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassador supports the ERO# 013-4124 Proposal to list Double-Crested Cormorant as a game bird and create a hunting season in Ontario for population management.

Our Observations:

The GTA fishing experience from spring to late fall includes sightings of Cormorants eating fish in any and every watershed. They can be found anywhere fish can be found. The open waters of the lake, near shore waters, embayment and harbours. Every decent fishing hole on the nine tributaries is clearly marked by the presence of Cormorants. All storm water ponds no matter how small have a couple pairs of Cormorants. The smaller lakes north of Toronto have their share of Cormorants as well.

We have observed Cormorants eating every fish species we fish for with the exception of Gar. The Cormorants obviously eat some species of fish in their juvenile or young adult growth states before they are of breeding size.

Over the last six years, Cormorants have attended every Family Fishing Event we have held at Toronto Islands, Humber Bay Park, Topham Pond and Grenadier Pond. We often have kids excitedly commenting that the black birds have caught a fish and ate it. On event days when fishing has been slow the Cormorants have often out fished our entire group of 200 kids. The impact of our investment to promote recreational fishing and the enjoyment of our guests is diminished by the impact the Cormorants have had on the fisheries of the watersheds we use for Family Fishing Events.

Across the watersheds of the GTA we have observed a steep decline in populations of native fish species such as Blue Gill, Pumpkin Seed, Perch, Bullhead, White Suckers, Rock Bass, Small Mouth Bass and Largemouth Bass.

Throughout the summer and fall of 2018 our members observed hundreds of sick or dead Cormorants. We reported some of our observations in the early summer and were informed the Cormorants were dying of Newcastle Disease.

Typical signatures of Cormorant destruction of natural habitat have been observed at Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto Islands and Humber River. These changes to tree canopies and shorelines are visibly changing the biodiversity of birds and wildlife we observe in those areas.

Our Concerns:

Decrease in prey fish abundance.

Decrease in populations of sport fish.

Changes to the biodiversity of fisheries, birds and wildlife through the influence of Cormorants.

Destruction of habitat in our Parks caused by the nesting practices of Cormorants.

Decrease in novice sport fish fisheries (pan fish, Perch, Bullhead and Bass) utilized in Family Fishing Events and to promote fishing to new anglers.

Recommendations to the Proposal:

We are concerned that the hunting proposal as it is proposed will not have a significant enough impact to control and decrease the numbers of Cormorants in the GTA. Hunting is not allowed in the GTA in areas surrounding the established Cormorant populations.

We are asking for further control measures to be directed at the established GTA Cormorant populations.

The measures we are proposing are egg oiling and nest removal at Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto Islands and Humber River.

We would like a one-time cull early spring before nesting begins at Tommy Thompson Park that significantly reduces the number of mating pairs.

Summary:

Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassador supports (with or without our recommendations included) the ERO# 013-4124 Proposal to list Double-Crested Cormorant as a game bird and create a hunting season in Ontario for population management.

Thank you for your consideration.