A final bait management strategy to protect the province's lakes and rivers from the threat of invasive species and fish diseases has been released.
As part of this new strategy, the government will be establishing four bait management zones to limit the movement of live bait across the province says a news release.
"This new strategy will go a long way towards reducing the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species and fish diseases that pose a serious threat to our fisheries and biodiversity.," said Mike Harris, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.. "This initiative will also help us increase business certainty for the commercial industry that relies on bait."
Live bait that is harvested in one area of the province is often shipped, sold, and later used in another region. If unused bait is not disposed of properly, invasive and other illegal bait species that may be mistakenly mixed in with the bait, or fish infected with disease, have the potential to establish new populations or infect other fish in the new waterbody.
To prevent the spread of invasive species and fish diseases through the movement of live bait, four bait management zones will be established across the province. This will limit the movement of most bait to the same bait management zone where it was harvested. Individual anglers who wish to use live bait outside of their own bait management zone will be required to purchase bait from a licensed commercial bait operator in the zone where they will be fishing.
The final Sustainable Bait Management Strategy is posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
Ontario’s bait industry is estimated to be worth $23 million per year.
