Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the control of the Ontario cormorant population.

I’ve been following this issue for a number of years now, and although I’m not familiar with the entire history of cormorant population levels prior to the 1950 (if 1950 is being used as a baseline), I noticed that the environmental registry proposal does not make note of this either, nor compare to current population levels, except to state that the current population level is stable or declining slightly (from an unstated level).

I recommend that studies of the ecological damage that cormorants are causing be done in advance of consideration of the creation of a hunting season for cormorants. I did not note any such research provided in the OMNR proposal; only complaints expressed by groups with vested interests that are petitioning for a reduction in the cormorant population (fishers and property owners are listed).

The impact of the cormorant on its environment is considered necessary by many scientists to create balance in the environment that is in proportion to its stable (or slightly declining) level. I am not clear on what basis a hunt would be permitted given the stability (or decline) of the cormorant population. I also am not clear on the how the daily hunting limit of 50 birds per hunter was established and believe numbers should be based on evidence provided by peer-reviewed research. Removing 50 birds per hunter per day may have a large and devastating impact on many colonies and other species that live along side cormorant colonies, so whether or not hunters would be able to kill 50 birds in one day is not the issue.

Around Kingston, there are islands that have been impacted by local populations of cormorants. As a waterfront owner myself, I can see this impact; but at the same time I can respect that this species can be controlled, if need be, with much less lethal means if an individual colony is creating damage that we decide we cannot accept. First, we need to carefully study what is happening and then what happens in the future once we make a decision on this issue; not simply establish a monitoring program after the fact.

While all species have impacts on their environment, the groups petitioning for this hunt, have themselves diminished and continue to diminish the fishery and their private property for personal gain to a much greater extent than have Ontario cormorants. Conversely, human impacts have generally been far in excess of our population level, and research has provided definitive evidence for our own primary role in diminishing the fishery and immediate environment. I hope that the OMNR will focus on this aspect in their decision-making and see this as an opportunity to allow the cormorant population to thrive.

Thank you again for considering this input.