I have been a birder for…

I have been a birder for nearly 40 years and currently do volunteer work on behalf of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto. I am 100% opposed to the proposed policy that would allow hunting of cormorants for many reasons including the following:

1. I do not believe that the rationale behind the proposal is science-based (e.g. the alleged detrimental effect of cormorants on fish populations is not well founded).

2. A hunt on cormorants would very likely have detrimental impacts on other bird species.

3. There are public safety issues emanating from hunting from stationery boats.

I have read the submission from Dr. Gail Fraser and am in full agreement with her views. In addition, I believe the government should be making science-based decisions that take into account many perspectives, rather than responding to special interest groups such as fishermen and cottage owners whose views on cormorants may be emotionally based and not founded on a full understanding of the facts.