On July 30, 2020, regulatory amendments were made to create a fall hunting season for double-crested cormorant in Ontario. While the words conjure up images of brimming garden bounties, bundles of corn husks and gourds ripening in farm fields, make no mistake: the cormorant kill is not a “harvest,” a proper wildlife management plan, nor a cull. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. With no management plan in place, the hunt is at best almost completely devoid of scientific grounding, and at worst, live target practice. On July 30, 2020 amendments have been made to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 and supporting regulations (Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting), Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons) and Ontario Regulation 669/98 (Wildlife Schedules)) to create a hunting season for double-crested cormorants in Ontario. Ontario government proposes full return of annual spring black bear hunt. On July 31, 2020, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced that hunting season for double-crested cormorants could take place in Ontario starting September 15. The latest form of that dislike is a new fall hunting season, announced by the Ontario government on July 31, which will allow hunters to bag 15 cormorants per day from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31. Hunting Ontario’s new cormorant hunt is welcome news to anglers, hunters, and recreational boaters, as well as shoreline property owners. Tuesday, September 15, marks the beginning of an effort by the Ontario government to extirpate a native bird species, the Double-crested Cormorant, from the province. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. The unmanaged hunt of an inedible native bird that was virtually wiped out in Ontario but for a couple of dozen nesting pairs presents an ethical dilemma for conservation-minded hunters and anglers. coast, U.S. election: Biden looks to unify U.S. after Electoral College confirmation, U.S. election: Joe Biden says Texas-led Supreme Court case ‘stunning’, What’s streaming: Top shows and movies in December, Coronavirus: Anand says she has ‘full confidence’ in Health Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine approval process, Ontario government proposes full return of annual spring black bear hunt, ‘What they’re doing is potentially illegal’: Kingston MPP wants investigation into Bill 197, ministry of natural resources and forestry. Read more: presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution In Fenelon Falls on Friday morning, John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, announced that the hunting season will run annually from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, beginning this year. Ontario has introduced a fall hunting season for double-crested cormorants. Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. These rules also apply to hunting double-crested cormorants. Posted on August 10, 2020 by dougdraper | 1 Comment The ugly truth is that from September 15 to December 31, anyone with a shotgun and a hunting licence (in Ontario) will be able to kill up to 15 cormorants a day. In a bid to protect fish stocks and natural habitat in Nipissing from the harmful impacts of double-crested cormorants, the Ontario government is introducing a fall harvest for the species. rights reserved. On July 31, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced a 90-day fall hunt of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) where a hunter can take 15 birds per day. A Friday announcement from the Ministry of … The daily bag limit is 15 birds under the authority of your small game licence. Following public consultations, the province has made changes to its initial proposal so as not to interfere with waterway users and other migratory birds. “We have also reduced the maximum number of cormorants a hunter can take to 15 a day, which is a similar limit to one for federally regulated migratory game birds such as mourning doves, snow and Ross’s geese, rails, coot and gallinules.”. Fifty per cent? Read more: People in Ontario are not happy that the provincial government has approved a mass hunt of the double-crested cormorant bird, and now experts are trying to put an end to it.. Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, says cormorants have been a growing problem on Sturgeon Lake and Balsam Lake in her riding. Hunters are required to retrieve and dispose of any cormorants that they shoot. In Fenelon Falls on Friday morning, … Cormorants were almost wiped out by the insecticide … What is the government’s goal? A cull is a controlled or selective reduction in wildlife numbers associated with an overarching management plan. The province of Ontario is introducing an annual fall harvest of the double-crested cormorant as a step to protect fish stocks and natural habitat. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Ontario’s cormorant hunt evokes praise, concern locally. The stated purpose is to “protect fish stocks and natural habitat from the harmful effects” of the double-crested cormorant. update Article was updated Aug. 02, 2020 Ontario is launching a battle against one of the predators preying on fish and damaging trees. “They have covered islands with their guano, killing trees and vegetation,” Scott said. On July 31, 2020 the MNRF announced a province wide fall season for cormorants from September 15 th to December 31 th. Ontario announces annual double-crested cormorant fall hunting season. “Growing up in North Bay and spending many summers fishing on Lake Nipissing, I have seen firsthand the issues that cormorants have caused in some local areas,” said Mike Harris, parliamentary assistant to Yakabuski. “We are encouraged to see that the MNRF has made adjustments to the original proposal in response to concerns expressed by the OFAH and others.”. Want to discuss? To order But for the hunt to have any real impact on mitigating the ecological mess caused by high concentrations of these fish-devouring birds, there needs to be buy-in from hunters. The Ontario cormorant hunt is not controlled, selective, managed nor sustainable; as such, it is not a cull. It provides information about hunting licences and fees, as well as up-to-date regulations and seasons for each COVID-19: Get the latest updates , take a self-assessment or learn about the COVID Alert exposure-notification app . Rules for hunting double-crested cormorants Double-crested cormorants have been listed as a ‘game bird’. The open season runs from September 15 to December 31, and the harvest limit is 15 birds per day. Cheskey: Ontario's cormorant 'hunt' is based on pandering, not science Back to video The concept of culling cormorants does have supporters, notably the Ontario … Update: The Ontario government has announced the 2020 fall hunting season for double-crested cormorants. The fish-eating bird — which consumes up to a pound a fish a day —  is known for its droppings called guana which can kill trees and other vegetation in which they nest and roost. “We’ve heard concerns from property owners, hunters and anglers, and commercial fishers about the kind of damage cormorants have caused in their communities, so we’re taking steps to help them deal with any local issues,” Yakabuski said. Republication or distribution of this content is Jul 31, 2020 • Last Updated 3 months ago • 1 minute read A Double-crested Cormorant Photo by Larry Wong / Postmedia Network In an effort to … Posted September 13th, 2020 on Niagara At Large You might have heard the Ontario government has announced that small game hunters will be allowed to kill 15 cormorants per day beginning September 15th and ending on December 31st. To order copies of jeyan says earlier this summer the ontario government announced a fall hunting season for double-crested cormorants starting september 15. gail fraser is a professor at york university who specializes in colonial water birds, and she joins us now from toronto for what that hunt could mean for the cormorant… Hunters wishing to hunt calf moose in WMUs 37, 40, 41, 42 and 47 will have to apply for a calf tag in these units. We will continue to monitor the cormorant population status and trends to support sustainability of cormorants in the province. Electoral College certifies vote, Coronavirus vaccines: What you should know about the side effects, Lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell propose $28.5M bail package, including armed guards, Trump rewards allies with high-level appointments as presidency winds down, Woman behind ‘Zombie Angelina Jolie’ sentenced to 10 years in Iranian prison, Helicopter footage shows huge landslide near Bute Inlet on B.C. Cormorant hunting, like all hunting, is not permitted in Toronto under City of Toronto bylaws. On Sep 24, 2020. A 10-per-cent reduction in cormorant numbers? This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Ontario’s government has passed a new hunting regulation that will allow hunters who hold small game permits – that’s approximately 197,000 hunters – to kill up to 15 cormorants a day. The Ford government has shown a healthy ability to change direction when needed. The new hunting season will run from September 15 to December 31 – a total of 111 days. Cormorants can be consumed but if not, the province says the harvested birds must be disposed of properly. “We are pleased to see a provincial government finally take action to control overabundant cormorant populations to help protect Ontario’s ecosystems,” said executive director Angelo Lombardo. The province’s decision to allow the hunting of double-crested cormorants is getting some mixed reviews locally. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. 0 7. Please read our Commenting Policy first. “In large amounts, cormorant droppings can kill trees and other vegetation and destroy traditional nesting habitats for some other colonial waterbirds, so it’s critical that we take action to strike a healthy balance in local ecosystems. The province says combined with historical data, trends suggest that cormorant populations are increasing in Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Superior and are stable on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Huron. On July 31, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced a 106-day fall hunt on double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) where a hunter can take 15 birds per day. Following public consultations, the province has made changes to its initial proposal and will introduce a hunting season that will run annually from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, starting in 2020. Last year, the ministry and partner agencies surveyed cormorant colonies across the Great Lakes and select inland lakes in Ontario. Ontario will introduce a fall hunting season for double-crested cormorants to help limit the impacts of the damaging, fish-eating bird. read The double-crested cormorant is a native bird to Ontario. Cormorants were almost wiped out by the insecticide DDT in the 1950s and ’60s. It is a new hunt based on misinformation and anecdotal stories that inevitably fail when scientific rigour is applied. Cormorant hunting season officially opened in Ontario on Sept. 15, 2020, but some locals in eastern Ontario hope hunters stay away. Yakabuski says Ontario has a healthy and sustainable cormorant population. As concerned residents of Ontario, we oppose this hunt on the grounds that no scientific evidence was provided for its justification . Quick Facts. The Ontario Commercial Fisheries’ Association echos the sentiment. Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. The new rules allow hunters with an outdoors card and small-game licence to shoot up to 15 cormorants a day until Dec. 31, 2020. Cormorants are now subject to a hunt to reduce their numbers. © 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Double-crested cormorants are fish-eating birds, usually eating easy-to-catch fish species. The double-crested cormorant is a native bird to Ontario. “We listened to those who provided comments about the cormorant hunting proposal, and as a result, we are introducing only a fall hunting season to avoid interfering with recreational users of waterways and nesting periods for some migratory birds,” Yakabuski said. The fall hunt is set to run from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31, and hunters may take 15 birds each day under their small game hunting license. Roy Woodward, who’s been visiting the area since the 1960s, said the cormorant … (September 22, 2020, 11:07 AM EDT) — Ontario has recently moved forward with amendments to its fish and wildlife laws, permitting a new 106-day open season on the double crested cormorant, a water bird native to Ontario. They are notorious for destroying traditional nesting habitats of other colonial waterbirds. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Ontario is implementing several changes resulting from the moose management review for the 2020 hunting season. “We’re listening to local residents who have voiced their concerns and asked for additional tools to address the issue.”. Moose hunting changes Changes for 2020. They intend to do this at the behest of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, by claiming that the migratory, native cormorant is a game bird. See the MNRF’s decision notice for full details, at www.ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-4124 ‘T here is no compelling evidence that cormorants have had a significant negative impact on commercial or sport fish stocks.’ The province of Ontario is introducing a fall harevest of the double-crested coromorant. Ontario’s controversial new fall hunt for the double-crested cormorant has pitted outdoors’ and sportsmen’s groups against naturalist and birding organizations. “Our position has not been to seek the extinction of cormorants from Ontario but for the management of cormorants to promote a balanced ecosystem, which is in the best interests for all Ontarians.”. The Ministry of Natural Resources dug deep into their Orwellian thesaurus and announced Ontario’s newest sport hunt as a “fall harvest” of the double-crested cormorant. Targets cannot be met if no one reports on their hunt. All calf tags issued through the tag draw will be valid in both the gun and bows only seasons. Their historic comeback in Ontario has led many to believe the cormorants are an invasive species, rather than the ecological victory they actually represent. In its announcement, the province framed hunting cormorants as a means of protecting local fish stocks and ecosystems. The province says hunters will be responsible for appropriately identifying their target and ensuring they are harvesting only double-crested cormorants. More or less? The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters applauds the bird harvesting announcement. Merriam-Webster defines “cull” as “to reduce or control the size of (something, such as a herd) by removal (as by hunting or slaughter) of especially weak or sick individuals.” Oxford Dictionary is more direct, defining it as “a selective slaughter of wild animals.” What is common to most definitions is that the kill is selective or controlled. Based on nest count surveys, the province says there are an estimated minimum of 143,000 breeding cormorants in 344 colonies across the province. “We strongly support the government’s decision to introduce a fall hunting season, which will help to control damaging cormorant populations,” said Jane Graham, executive director. Fifteen birds a day "Fifteen birds a day is actually comparable to other migratory birds like the dove -- they're 15 a day, as well," said North Bay Hunters and Anglers president Kam Wroblewski. Brian Mulroney recovering after undergoing emergency surgery, Iran sentences ‘Zombie Angelina Jolie’ to 10 years in jail for photos, Ongaro’s Outdoor Outfitters suffers major financial losses due to Canada-U.S. border closure, Ongaro’s Outdoor Outfitters suffers major financial losses due to Canada-U.S. border closure – May 29, 2020, Ottawa reveals $3.16 billion to plant 2 billion trees over the next decade, Wildfires take over from industry as major source of cancer-causing air toxins: study, More Republicans finally accept Biden win after U.S. The hunt currently goes one for 106 days, and allows hunters to take 15 birds per day. All ‘What they’re doing is potentially illegal’: Kingston MPP wants investigation into Bill 197, “A new fall hunting season will help communities manage cormorant populations where they have negatively impacted natural habitat and other waterbird species.”. Tue., Aug. 25, 2020 timer 2 min. But in order to have an informed debate we need to agree on basic terminologies. Trends suggest that cormorant populations are increasing in Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Superior. The Ontario cormorant hunt is none of the above. This annual hunting guide summarizes the rules and regulations for hunting in Ontario. Ontario has a healthy and sustainable cormorant population. You can hunt cormorants in accordance with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and general small game hunting requirements allowed with an Outdoors Card and small game licence, similar to other game bird species. 2020 Cormorant hunting season. After accepting comments from November 2018 to January 2019 on its proposal to permit hunting, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry recently announced it would allow people to kill 15 cormorants per day — not the 50 it had initially proposed. But the government has set no targets for reducing the population in Ontario and no requirements to report the numbers killed. In an open letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry John Yakabuski on Tuesday, 51 wildlife ecologists, aquaculture experts, environmental sciences experts and others are opening up about why this hunt … As ecologists, fisheries scientists and natural resource managers, we are concerned at the lack of scientific examination associated with the announcement. In proposing the hunt, Natural Resources Minister John Yakabuski said, “We’ve heard concerns from property owners, hunters and anglers, and commercial fishers about the kind of damage cormorants have caused in their communities, so we’re taking steps to help them deal with any local issues.” Absent from his list of advisers are conservationists, birders and scientists. The province of Ontario is introducing an annual fall harvest of the double-crested cormorant as a step to protect fish stocks and natural habitat. Share.