I am concerned about this…

I am concerned about this policy. It seems inappropriate to me to have a hunting season that lasts for 8 to 9 months. Hunting would take place during the cormorant's breeding season which could have unintended consequences on the overall viability of the population.

I understand that cormorants have a deleterious impact on the vegetation around their nesting colonies. I know that many people don't like the birds. However, they are part of our natural ecosystem and they play a part in the ecological chain. I think there needs to be stricter guidelines on hunting:

1. A shorter season, that starts after the breeding season and when young are largely self sufficient;
2. A much lower number of birds to be shot per day and/or a maximum number of birds that each hunter can kill.

If the hunting season is going to incorporate the breeding season, then hunters should not be allowed to camp out at a breeding site and start shooting. The birds are held captive to their nests when they are hatching/raising their young. Allowing shooting at a breeding site would basically amount to a sanctioned slaughter. Would that traumatize surviving birds such that they avoid a breeding site in future? What effect would that have on future population management?

I think these questions need to be outlined and pros/cons set out in the policy outline, with evidence to support the ministry's position that its plans do not significantly impact the species. While I'm not a scientist, I find it hard to believe that hunters being allowed to shoot up to 50 birds a day with no maximum limit imposed would not have a significant and likely negative impact on the species, depending on the number of licenses issued. It would be better to start with smaller numbers and monitor, increasing limits if the evidence warrants, rather than kill off massive numbers and then have a threatened or vulnerable species that requires investment to save.

There must be sufficient oversight to ensure that hunters actually retrieve the birds and dispose properly of the bodies.

I profoundly hope the government will review their position and that their final policy will take into account the concerns of conservation specialists and comments from Ontarians.