On the lack of scientific evidence for the Ontario cormorant cull and other cormorant management actions: a response to Dorr et al. (2022)

[摘要] In their recent essay in Avian Conservation and Ecology, Dorr etal. (2022) were compelled to clear up apparent misunderstandingsthey felt were perpetrated by the separate editorials of Hobson(2021) and Cooke (2021) dealing specifically with the Ontariogovernment’s decision to allow a province-wide public cull ofDouble-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) in responseto perceived conflicts with fisheries, conservation objectives, andhuman recreation. They claim to have addressed “misconceptionsabout cormorant and fishery interactions, summarize the currentstate of knowledge on the issue, and discuss a different approachbased on collective experience in the United States.” They furthersuggest that both editorials imply that “cormorants rarely, if ever,are an issue for any reason, and that management is rarelywarranted.” While we welcome the debate, it is clear to us (nowincluding Ludwig, the senior author of this report) that suchpremises are simply not true; a more careful reading of our paperswould have revealed a more dispassionate and scientific approachto the question and that we had very clearly focused almostentirely on the Great Lakes region vs. Double-crested Cormorantseverywhere. Rather, the Dorr et al. (2022) response reflects theauthors’ long careers in cormorant “management” and anapology for the record of the US government (and various stateagencies) with respect to cormorant fisheries concerns.

[学科分类] 口腔科学

[关键词] cormorants;diet;fisheries interactions;management;misconceptions;Ontario