Hunting policy should be…

Hunting policy should be conservative and have as its bedrock principle maintaining a balanced natural ecosystem. Hunting policy should not be attempting to reduce predator populations in order to provide more hunting or fishing. The ecosystem is not well enough understood for us to be able to predict with confidence the ultimate outcome of reducing a predator population. A desirable fish species might be wiped out because another species (that is not targeted by fishers) out competes the desired fish species when there is less pressure from cormorants.

If this policy change is made, the funds must be made available to monitor the changes to the ecosystem and a commitment made that the policy will promptly respond to the scientific results of the study.