I am writing to provide…

I am writing to provide input and express my concern over the proposed changes to the regulations for hunting of cormorants. The proposed changes would broadly expand the hunting season and eliminate limits on the killing of cormorants in Southern Ontario.

My main concerns are related to safe access and use of wetlands for a variety of recreational activities by the general public and nature enthusiast such as myself. All of the shoreline, wetland and beach areas in which cormorants are actively nesting in Ontario boarder water ways used for a variety of recreational and other purposes.

The proposed hunting season from March 15 to December 31 will extend right through the times when I and many others would be interested in being the same areas in which hunters may likely be active. This for me raises a serious concern for the safety of my self and others.
While I have great respect for members of our public who do enjoy recreational hunting and do undertake to carry their hunting activities in as safe a manor as possible there is still a much higher risk of an accident when firearms are in use in areas in which many people may be using.
Additionally the presence of hunters with firearms will definitely cause concern to those who are not familiar or comfortable with firearms. The presence of active hunting will impede the use by non hunters such as myself of both cormorant nesting areas and adjacent non wetland areas.
I am a active user of waterways through Southern Ontario and it concerns me that at anytime a hunter will be able to anchor their watercraft and start shooting at what he may believe to be cormorants. Shooting from any watercraft can be very tricky and is not generally recommended as a safe approach to hunting.

I as well have concerns regarding the strength of the scientific basis for the changes proposed. While I am aware of concern over damages caused by the colony nesting of cormorants these damages need to be evaluated against the potential damages from the potential off catch (non cormorant species) which nest and live in the same area. Hunters accessing hunting sites through out the extended season would in addition have a definite negative impact on sensitive wetlands areas which are home to very many endanger species.

I am asking that these new revisions to the hunting regulations be put on hold to allow for input and consultations from members of the public, science community, hunting enthusiast, conservation authorities and municipal governments. A better approach to cormorant population and damage may in fact be found at the municipal and conservation authority level where a greater degree of interaction with all stakeholders is more likely possible.