Good today, I am dismayed…

Good today,

I am dismayed and quite frankly disappointed in learning of the renewed call for a proposed provincial law, Bill 205, which if passed, will allow the indiscriminate hunting and trapping of double-crested cormorants, lifting their current protection under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1997.

Personally I believe, and I am not alone, that the proposal to allow a hunting season in response to an increase in the numbers of cormorants is an impulsive one. Most animals which colonize new areas show a period of initial, unrestricted growth, just as we have seen with cormorants over the last 10-15 years. Such growth, however, can not be sustained forever. Eventually, the population outstrips its food supply, outgrows its habitat (or nesting areas), or is reduced by disease or predation. When this happens, the cormorant population can be expected to drop in numbers, until it stabilizes itself again.

In recent years, the explosive growth of the cormorant population has definitely slowed. The largest colony on the Great Lakes, at Little Galloo Island in Lake Ontario, showed a 31% decrease in
numbers of breeding pairs between 1992 and 1994. In 1994, the cormorant population of Lake Ontario decreased by 6%. This was the first such decline in over 15 years. In 1992, Newcastle Disease
Virus killed up to 30% of the young cormorants in several colonies. These population declines and disease outbreaks are signs that other factors are starting to have an impact on the population. Thus
it seems unlikely that the cormorant population will continue to grow as it has during the 1980s and early 1990s. According to fisheries biologists, stocks of the smaller prey fish have been decreasing dramatically in recent years. This decrease in the cormorants’ food supply is probably already contributing to their decline on Lake Ontario.

The greatest controversy and complaint from the fishing and angling community appears to be around the subject of the cormorant diet in suggesting that the 'FACTS' are that cormorants threaten the sport fish industry. According to the Canadian Wildlife Service, less than two percent of a cormorant’s diet consists of sport fish. There is no empirical, scientifically determined indication that the fish consumed by cormorants have a significant, measurable negative impact on what is available to commercial and recreational anglers. Cormorants are opportunity-based fishers – they eat what is most abundant and easily available which prevents them from depleting stocks of any one species.

Lastly, although it’s true that cormorants can cause damage to properties, the law already allows property owners to deal with this problem. Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, property owners may capture or kill wildlife that is causing or is about to cause damage to their property, something that I personally am concerned about as not everyone will be responsible in ensuring that these animals are killed in a humane way.

As a long-time conservative supporter, I believe the prudent, responsible and balanced approach is to consider all the facts of this situation, not just those that support the sport fishing industry and do what is responsible in order to continue to protect this species. I am reminded of how the previous Harris government took the responsible step to end the spring bear hunt as it recognized the importance of protecting bears just out of hibernation. The Liberal government later reversed this decision and once again allowed spring bear hunting. It ignored science-based evidence that it was provided with from wildlife and conservation experts which debunked the belief that a spring bear hunt would reduce the numbers of human/bear conflicts. I would like to see this new government take the same responsible action to ensure that cormorant species and all wild life continue to be protected in this province rather than perceived as a means of supply for fishing and hunting. They are first and foremost a valuable part of their respective ecosystem and environment.

Thank you.