I have had the opportunity…

I have had the opportunity to review and carefully consider the proposal to allow for the hunting of Cormorants in the Province of Ontario, and would like to voice my full and complete support of it!

I am a sport fisherman and bird watcher who is keenly interested in the environment and conservation! I have spent more than 55 years fishing and undertaking nature observations on Lake Ontario and other bodies of water in Ontario, south of the French River. In doing so, I have on a first hand basis witnessed the unprecedented and exponential explosion in the Cormorant population (starting with a "colony" in Hamilton Bay back in the late 1970's), and have seen their incredibly destructive impact on both juvenile gamefish and prey fish species (not to ignore their negative impact on the land they nest on, and their squeezing out of other water birds). Action such as this Bill, is long overdue (I also supported MPP Bob Bailey's private member bill related to Cormorants that unfortunately died when the previous Government prorogued) !

Anyone who has spent any time on the water can likely relate numerous accurate anecdotes of witnessing the Cormorants plunder our fish species. This is a species whose population has exploded well beyond what can be sustained without more significant negative impacts. Historical records clearly indicate that that Cormorants were never common. Living very close to the Lake Ontario shoreline allows me to observe their activity daily. I cant help but notice that they seem to arrive earlier in April each year and leave later as well (I was still seeing groups of them along the Oakville waterfront as late as November 20/18 this past fall).

To those who oppose this Bill, I would suggest that they are practicing conservation in a rather selective fashion - where is their concern for the fish species being plundered and decimated? To those who are now suggesting that the population of Cormorants has "stabilized" - how little comfort that provides as we watch this massive number of what in reality amounts to an invasive species destroy fish populations. There is no "stability" to this as these "experts" would suggest - in fact how very disingenuous of them to make these pronouncements, as though in doing so, citizens with real and valid concerns should be placated and remain quiet. Their population may have plateaued but these population levels are not desired, and not sustainable. They also are continuing to expand their range across the Province from Kenora to Cornwall and as far north as Algonquin Park.

Therefore, hand in hand with introducing a legal hunt the Provincial Government will need to undertake regular spot culls across the Province (you cannot and should not download the entire responsibility for bringing their population under control on private citizens!). Further a major ongoing cull is required on Lake Ontario, which should continue until such time as the population becomes in balance with the watersheds environment.

The Government will need to ensure various municipalities (particularly along the Lake Ontario Watershed), allow for this hunt to unfold.

Please get this Bill passed and commence spot culls.