I am writing today to…

I am writing today to strongly opposed the new proposal regarding cormorants hunting and listing them as "Game Birds". The opinion of small groups of people with a biased opinion on cormorants does not justify the mass killing of cormorants. Birds will be virtually used for target practice, and because they are inedible, these birds can be left to suffer, diet and rot. These birds are filled with shot - most of which is lead which means other species could be poisoned and our environment will be further contaminated with a highly toxic heavy metal. The opinions and complaints of a small group should by no means, lead to the annihilation of entire colonies of a native Ontarian species and putting them at risk of extreme suffering. Hunting of cormorants aren't new but this proposal is at a whole new level and it will lead to decimation of entire colonies. Not only is this proposal environmentally unsound and will not solve the problem, but leaving injured and dying birds to waste and rot is unethical and wasteful. Witnesses have seen horribly injured birds left suffering in the water and on land after hunters have moved on.

I find overall that this proposal is deeply disturbing, and it is highly doubtful that cormorants are to blame for reduced fish stocks and pollution. As we know, human activities are the leading culprit of environmental destruction, habitat destruction, environmental deterioration, species extinction, and fish stock depletion due to over-fishing.

Cormorants are native to Ontario and have a strong presence in our natural environment and ecological balance. There is no scientific evidence showing cormorants are to blame for fish stock depletion or environmental degradation. This proposal is aimed simply to appease a small group of biased members of the public including hunters and home-owners who would benefit from this expanded hunt and is not justifiable by any means.

I would like to see our Ontario government focus on wildlife protection, conservation as well as habitat preservation. This proposal on Cormorant hunting is barbaric, cruel, wasteful and I strongly oppose this from moving forward. Wildlife numbers are continually diminishing in Canada and cormorants being native to Canada, need to be protected. I further ask that the Ontario government to take steps to tighten up the protection of our natural environment and wildlife to prevent them from groups of interest who want to continue to exploit and degrade our natural environment and resources further. I think that extensive field studies from marine biologists, scientists, zoologists and environmentalists need to be done to come up with an ethically and environmentally responsible solution. This current proposal is unsound and I urge you to dismiss it immediately.