cormorant eco comment

Environmental Commissioner of Ontario PEACEFUL 2004/2005 ANNUAL REPORT SUPPLEMENT PARKS www.eco.on.caCOALITIONReview of Application R2004001:Review of the Amendment to the Management Strategy for Double-crested Cormorants at Presqu’ile Provincial Park(Review Denied by MNR)ECO CommentWhether or not to manage cormorants and how to do it have been controversial issues for MNR. In 2002, there was substantial public support for both aggressive and immedi-ate control of cormorant populations, and substantial opposition to the use of popula-tion control measures. In 2002, MNR decided on a middle of-the-road approach – addi-tional research would be done to help fill information gaps and relatively benign control measures would be used in 2003 even though MNR knew that benefits would not be apparent for at least two years. However by March 2004, MNR decided that more aggressive actions were required to re-duce the risk that the western woodland would be irreparably harmed and proposed the 2004 Amendment. Again there was both substantial support and substantial opposition. At the heart of the cormorant management issue and the application for review is wheth-er or not specific species should be managed in order to protect specific values such as habitat and fish populations. Few would question the importance of protecting native habitats and biodiversity. However, there is often controversy over which habitats and which species should be protected and how they ...