A bird, common to Lake Nipissing and often blamed for depleting the fish population of the lake, may soon face its own threat...hunters.
The Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) continues to cause concern among anglers, the commercial fishing industry and individuals that cormorants have been detrimental to fish populations, island forest habitats, and other species.
The MNRF is proposing to create a hunting season for double-crested cormorants in Ontario which would allow people who hold a small game licence to hunt them.
“For some time, I’ve voiced my concerns about the impact cormorants may be having on our local ecosystem, especially pertaining to fish populations," Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli told BayToday. "It’s very pleasing to see our Government is proposing actions to properly manage cormorants in Ontario.”
The following regulatory changes are being proposed to create a hunting season beginning next year.
- List the double-crested cormorant as a “Game Bird”.Hunters would be required to have an outdoors card and small game licence to hunt double-crested cormorants, similar to other species of game birds.
- Create an open hunting season for double-crested cormorant from March 15 to December 31 each year across the province.
- Create an exemption allowing small game licences to be valid for double-crested cormorant hunting in central and northern Ontario from June 16 to August 31 each year.
- Establish a bag limit of 50 cormorants per day with no possession limit.
- Prescribe shotgun and shot size/type requirements consistent with migratory bird hunting regulations outlined in the federal Migratory Birds Regulations. This would include the use of shotguns that are not larger than 10 gauge, that cannot hold more than three shells and use non-toxic shot as described in the migratory bird regulations.
- Allow hunting from a stationary motorboat.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act currently prohibits anyone who kills game wildlife, or who possesses game wildlife killed by hunting, from allowing that meat to spoil. Now, the Ministry is proposing to amend the Act so hunters could allow cormorant to spoil.
The Ministry will implement a cormorant monitoring program to assess population status and trends. Monitoring of cormorants will allow the Ministry to assess the impacts of the hunting season and to adjust cormorant hunting regulations if necessary to address any concerns about population sustainability.
You can comment on the proposal online.
The anticipated environmental consequences of the proposal are expected to be neutral as the cormorant is abundant in Ontario and anticipated levels of harvest aren’t expected to affect sustainability.
The Ministry expects those interested in hunting cormorants, or who believe cormorants are having detrimental impacts will likely support the proposed changes. Individuals and groups opposing cormorant hunting or hunting during summer months will likely oppose the proposed changes.
You can read more and comment here.
Looking for a tasty cormorant recipe? Check here.
