I am opposed to the proposed…

I am opposed to the proposed hunting legislation for the Double-Crested Cormorant (ERO 013-4124). The proposal ignores much of the scientific evidence regarding cormorants, puts other protected bird species at risk, and ignores other non-lethal ways of managing cormorant populations. My specific concerns are listed below:
1. No scientific research exists that implicates the cormorant in the decline of sport fish. In fact, cormorants eat the round goby, an invasive species that has been shown to reduce populations of Ontario sport fish by competing for the same food and directly eating eggs and young.
2. A hunting season extending from Mar. 15 to Dec. 31 allows hunting during the breeding season, causing unnecessary suffering. If there is indeed a rationale for controlling cormorant populations, other more humane such as egg oiling are well established.
3. Hunting in or near cormorant colonies would be an enormous disturbance to gulls, terns, herons, egrets and other colonial that nest alongside cormorants, in violation of the Migratory Bird Convention Act.
4. Such an extended hunting season puts hunters in conflict with non-hunting recreational public and raises serious safety concerns in provincial parks and other public areas.