Cormorants have become an…

Cormorants have become an important predator of round gobies, an aggressive invasive species in the Great Lakes. That's according to a national park biologist I interviewed as part of my work. We want to control round gobies. It makes sense to let cormorants do the job.

In addition, I am concerned about the proposed cormorant hunt for three reasons.

First, I have not seen any scientific evidence that virtually-uncontrolled hunting is the best way to manage cormorants, even assuming that there is a valid basis for controlling these round-goby-eating birds.

Second, I have never tasted cormorant flesh, but those who have say it is oily and fishy tasting and generally unpalatable. In other words, it is highly unlikely to be eaten. Hunting is therefore not for food but as an alternative to a cull. With a bag limit of 50 birds a day, the cormorant hunt would encourage a high degree of wanton waste, which is in total disregard to the basics of ethical hunting.

Third, loons in their winter plumage can be mistaken for cormorants. Loons are in enough trouble from the acidifcation of southern Ontario loons. We can't afford to lose loons which are mistaken for cormorants.

To summarize, hunting cormorants is a misguided proposal because it removes a source of control for the highly invasive round gobies, it is unsupported by scientific studies, it promotes wanton waste and it endangers loons i their fall plumage.