The completely…

The completely overpopulation of cormorants is causing significant harm to the enivronment, fishery, species at risk and even physically shrinking islands from deforestation in Lake Erie. I have personally witnessed the deforestation on Middle Island, East and Middle Sister Islands. The deforestation leads to erosion. Their guano can be 20+cm deep which kills the trees, breeds bacteria, overnutrifies the surrounding water causing harmful algae blooms, and is the ideal environment to breed the invasion of flies that spread disease. Their absolutely voracious appetite for fish in the limited spawning grounds is hurting the fishery. According to Parks Canada, the population of cormorants on Middle Island was 3 breeding pairs in 1987 which rose to over 5000 breeding pairs by 2009 and they estimated that approximately 400 breeding pairs was appropriate. The Canadian Coast Guard even has to wear hazmat suits when servicing their navigation aids. There needs to be a 90 percent cull in the cormorant population. Not only hunters but non-hunting firearms owners should be allowed to participate as well.