I am opposed to the proposal…

I am opposed to the proposal to enact a hunting season for the Double-crested Cormorant. The species is native to Ontario and its population trends and any resulting impacts on habitat such as nesting in trees which may die is a natural phenomenon and should generally be allow to proceed unimpeded. Local impacts such as in Parks where specialized habitats may occur can be mitigated at the immediate location using non-lethal means. An example is the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority which has deterred cormorants from nesting in trees without killing them.

The proposed hunt is not a hunt because the meat will not be consumed.

Finally a "hunt" will impact many non-target species such as herons, egrets, gulls and terns which nest among cormorants on many islands. Many non-target species will be young birds and susceptible to starving if their parents have deserted their nests due to cormorant hunting. Some non-target species are species at risk or rare species (e.g. Black Tern, Common Tern, Caspian Tern) and the hunt would be contravening other Acts or management activities designed to protect the species at risk or rare species).