Ontario's double-crested cormorant population has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. This rapid population growth and range expansion has resulted in public concerns regarding impacts to the environment, and conflicts with humans.
| Date Published: | May 01, 2006 | |
| Publisher: | Ontario Government, Ministry of Natural Resources | |
| Author: | Fish & Wildlife Branch |
Ontario's double-crested cormorant (Phalocrocorax auritus, henceforth cormorant) population has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. This rapid population growth and range expansion has resulted in public concerns regarding impacts to the environment, and conflicts with humans. Cormorant management has become a contentious issue among stakeholder groups, landowners, and interested citizens.
In 1997, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) completed a "Review of the Population Status and Management of Double-crested Cormorants in Ontario" in response to increasing cormorant populations, and public demand for information and management options (OMNR 1997). The review document was posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights in May and June of 1997. In 1998, the finalized review document established the guiding policy for the management of cormorants in Ontario (OMNR 1997).
Since 1997, the scientific community, and provincial and federal agencies have increased the knowledge base with respect to cormorant biology, population dynamics, environmental impacts, and future management challenges. This document reports on this new knowledge, and expands on the information presented in the 1997 review document. It presents information on biology, history, current population status, environmental impacts, and research/monitoring of cormorants in Ontario. Relevant cormorant legislation, provincial policy, and management activities in other Canadian and United States jurisdictions has also been summarized.
The purpose of this review document is to summarize available information on the status, biology and management of cormorants in Ontario. It provides a basis for the future development of management options. Information included in this document was assembled from a review of scientific literature, discussions with cormorant experts, and MNR field offices, provincial, federal and U.S. wildlife management agencies. It is not intended to be an exhaustive account of the topics. For specific details the reader should review the referenced literature.
The OMNR is committed to maintaining a diversity of environments in Ontario, including habitat for cormorants. The future management of cormorants in Ontario will consider relevant science and consultation with the public.
ISBN 1-4249-0936-8
Review of the Status and Management of Double-crested Cormorants in Ontario (2006) (PDF, 1.4 MB)
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