Although I understand and…

Although I understand and agree with the need to regulate the cormorant population in Ontario I do not agree with the proposed approach you are suggesting.

It is true the cormorant population has rebounded (exploded) in response to the cleaner environment absent the DDT and other pesticides of the pre 70's. In fact their recovery was touted by many as a sign of environmental improvements.

It is also true the MNRF hold the responsibility to monitor and where necessary regulate Ontario's wildlife populations. If we agree the population is indeed excessive, causing adverse impacts of other plant and animal populations or unnecessarily negatively impacting commerce then recommending population controls may well be appropriate.

HOW you go about this is my concern.

I am an active hunter and have been for in excess of 40yrs. I am very concerned with the image of Ontario's hunters in the eyes of the general public. In most instances the average Ontario resident is not well versed (educated) on wildlife management principles and practices.
In my opinion they do not completely understand the role hunting plays in wildlife management.

I realize MNRF is looking at how best to accomplish a management objective, I get that. But please look past your desired outcome of cormorant controls, consider the potential harm you are generating to the image of the hunter and the legislation.

The hunting population is facing many challenges and image is one of them.
We have negative news (and MNRF requests for assistance) reports of hunters shooting and abandoning wildlife (moose for example) on one hand while on the other you propose legislative changes to the very Acts and regulations that are in place to prosecute these unethical individuals to allow for exactly that!

Very confusing messaging for the general public and young hunters and I would suggest the lower courts to grasp.

Demographics show a shrinking hunter population and slow recruitment. It is imperative the image of the hunter be considered here.

I appreciate MNRF looks to the cadre of licenced hunters as a potential management tool here and is (in my opinion) downloading a workload responsibility.

To alter the FWCA to allow and encourage the open slaughter and deliberate waste of any animal is to attract extreme negative fallout from the non-hunting population. It will be the Hunter who takes the blame here and this will foster a truly negative image.

I feel this to be a very slippery slope you are proposing. There are other options to control waterfowl populations.