Conservation groups say they are concerned about an Ontario government decision to allow a hunt of double-crested cormorants across the province this fall.

The Ontario ministry of natural resources and forestry announced the hunt on Friday, calling it a “fall harvest,” and said it will allow a hunter with an outdoors card and small game licence to kill up to 15 birds a day from Sept. 15 to Dec. 31. Hunters will be allowed to shoot the birds from stationary motorboats.

According to the ministry, the rationale for the killing of the birds is that they reduce fish stocks and their droppings damage natural habitat. It says they hurt the livelihoods of commercial fishermen…