| April 30, 2009 **Note - All Links will open in new windows
New Rules Impact Anglers
Most anglers are now aware that lot of changes are being made to the laws, rules and regulations that govern anglers. The goal of these changes is to reduce the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). The response from the western states in the US has been rapid with several states passing new legislation this year. While this flurry of activity is great, it has highlighted a part of the AIS problem that we as anglers need to become more active in addressing.
The problem is that there is a widespread perception that this issue is an angling problem. In fact, it is a society problem. The impacts from AIS invasions hit everyone in some fashion. As an example, it is anticipated that mussel introductions in the west will result in huge costs to the hydro power industry which will be passed on to every electricity user. Municipalities will face significant new costs that will be paid for by tax payers. Agriculture will face new expenses as will industry. At the same time, the impacts on fishing could well be minor compared to these other costs. Yet, the perception is that it is an angling problem and anglers should be held responsible for prevention.
Anglers are certainly part of the problem and we need to be a big part of the solution. However we must make our legislators understand that this is far more than an angling issue and there needs to be a response that is supported by all of society and not just by anglers. A recent discovery of mussels in Utah has been linked to industrial activity. Yet, we focus only on boat inspections. Idaho estimates that the economic impact of mussels in the state would be in excess of $90 million annually. Yet they are funding their prevention program by taxing only boaters. Colorado, by contrast, is currently funding their effort from general funds which is a more equitable solution.
As lawmakers continue to craft additional responses to the AIS problem, it is vital that anglers and other recreationists get involved in the process. These are new issues and everyone is struggling to find new solutions. Get involved and help make your representatives aware that AIS impact on all of us and are not just an angling problem.
Here is a sample of some of the new laws adopted recently:
In April, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson signed the New Mexico Aquatic Invasive Species Control Act which grants new inspection and decontamination authorities to the Game & Fish Department.
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer is expected to soon sign the Montana Aquatic Invasive Species Act which was passed by huge majorities of the Montana House & Senate. This bill will provide new authorities and penalties and will create two new invasive species positions in the state.
In Oregon, a number of bills are still being debated that would address invasive species problems in the state. While it remains to be seen exactly what legislation will emerge, there is little doubt that we will soon see new invasive species legislation in Oregon
In early April, Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed new legislation that will pay for a boat inspection program by charging every boat owner an annual fee has generated a lot of attention and opposition. The new law mandates that every boat, motorized or non-motorized, must have an annual invasive species sticker displayed. The cost for the sticker is $10 for a resident motor boat, $20 for a non-resident motorized boat and $5 for any non-motorized boat. The only exception is for non-motorized inflatable boats under 10 feet in length. Read the official Idaho invasive species boat sticker Q&A.
The new Idaho program was opposed the non-motorized boating community as being an unfair tax on them to pay for a program that they have no stake in. Their argument is that since the main vector for spreading mussels is through motorized vessels it is unfair to tax the non-motorized community. We will not bring out the full argument here. If you are interested you can find a lot of info on the Internet. However, read down in this story to get a good example of an outdoor columnist examines the new invasive species sticker
Get Your Fishing Photo Published While Supporting Our Fight
This Is Fly, the leading on-line fly fishing magazine, is preparing to publish their first printed book, a beautiful volume featuring the best of the photos submitted to them by anglers. They have committed to donating the proceeds to one of three conservation organizations and the Center or Aquatic Nuisance Species is one of the recipients. However, the percentage of the proceeds we receive will be based on the number of photo contributers that select Invasive Species as their desired recipient.
Please help us to get a portion of this money by pulling together one or more of your favorite photos and submitting them for consideration. If selected you will be rewarded by seeing your photo in this special book and will help us to continue our work by increasing their donations to us. Pass this on to anyone you know and ask them all to select us as their recipient organization. The process is easy just check out the fly fishing photo submission information.
Gear Cleaning Resources
Inspect - Clean & Dry is the new standard that every recreationist needs to incorporate into every trip on the water. Everyone knows that this is the key to reducing the spread of AIS. However, a lot of people wonder exactly what we mean when we say to inspect and clean. Here are some resources that can answer your questions about inspecting or cleaning boats, trailers and fishing gear.
The Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife has produced an excellent Boat Inspection and Decontamination Video that is especially useful for anyone conducting these inspections. It is aimed at agency people who are inspecting all types of boats but provides excellent information for any power boater.
Utah is really pushing hard to reduce the spread of mussels and they have an excellent developed an excellent printed booklet that describes the inspection and cleaning process. The info is available as a PDF file so be sure to download and read the Utah Boat Inspection and Cleaning Protocols
The News About Mussels
Whatever happened to the zebra mussels, the foreign invader blamed, in part, for the "dead zone" in Lake Erie? asks reporter John Russell in an excellent article for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. His findings: they're gone. Unfortunately, they have been eliminated by the quagga mussels that are equally as harmful to the Lake. Read Tom's complete story about how Quagga mussels eliminated zebra mussels in Lake Erie
For the fifth time in four years, an alert citizen has assisted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) in their efforts to keep zebra mussels from invading Lake Texoma. On April 3 Brent Taylor, an employee of a private landowner on the south shore of Lake Texoma, reported to TPWD Inland Fisheries biologist Bruce Hysmith that he had found a suspected zebra mussel on a boathouse communication line under water. The find marks the first time the dangerous exotic species has been found living in Lake Texoma. It is known to occur at several other sites in Oklahoma. New Mussel Discovery in Texas
More on Felt
- Last month we highlighted some of the recent news surrounding the use of felt soled waders. The following are a few discussions of felt that appeared on the Internet in the past month.
Will Felt Soles Soon Be Obsolete? This is a very interesting discussion thread from a major fly fishing site
Vibram Sole Boot Review Noted fly angler George Anderson has conducted his own field test of the new rubber soled wading shoes and this is his review.
"I wouldn't fish without felt-soled, studded wading boots," trout guide Mike Leskowski of Oil Creek Outfitters, as quoted in newspaper story.
Wanted: lamprey hunters
No experience required. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is seeking help from anglers in the ongoing effort to control one of the Great Lakes' biggest and oldest threats from an invasive species. The commission has set up an online database where anglers can contribute detailed information about their fishing trips. The data will help researchers gain a better understanding of where the lampreys are, how well the control program is working and what the wounding rates are among Great Lakes fish populations. This is a great example of how anglers can help to be a part of the invasive species solution. Lets all push to find more ways where we can help our resource managers in this fight. Great Lakes Commission asks anglers to provide data Please Help This newsletter, the Clean Angling Pledge and all of our efforts to prevent the spread of ANS are financed by donations. Please help us with a tax deductible donation of any amount.
A Lionfish Rodeo?
In the western United States cowboys ride the range rounding up cattle turned out to graze and gather in rodeos to show off their skills. In North Carolina an entirely different wildlife roundup is being planned in hopes of controlling the spread of the invasive marine lionfish. The Charlotte News Observer reports that several commercial diving shops are teaming up with a culinary school and agency officials to plan a series of "lionfish rodeos" during the summer where divers will organize to net and remove the fish which will be used as food fish by the culinary school. It is not expected that the lionfish can be eliminated in this way but it may prove to be an effective control in some places. Lionfish Roundups in North Carolina
It's Time for A New Ethic
Reducing the spread of invasive species is something that we can all work to do. Inspect, Clean and Dry is the new mantra that we all need to remember and to follow. If we, and everyone we influence adopts these simple actions as part of every trip we will do a lot to reduce the spread of invasives. One of the leading companies striving to be part of the solution is Simms Fishing Products. We have featured them before in support of their efforts to eliminate felt from their products. They have recently put on a major push to get all anglers to become clean anglers and encourages them all to take the Clean Angling Pledge. SIMMS Urges Battle Against Invasives
This is a great example of how you can support the ethic by spreading it to others. We want you all to help spread the word and have prepared a number of ways that you can help to promote the pledge. Please do what you can to share the clean angling ethic with others. Promote the Clean Angling Pledge
Help Wanted!
The Invasive Species Council of California seeks to appoint 24 members to the California Invasive Species Advisory Committee (CISAC). Nominations must be postmarked by May 8, 2009. Nominations sought for California Invasive Species Council
One overlooked aspect of all the new boat inspection requirements is that it is creating new entry level jobs for young people interested in a fishery conservation career. In Minnesota, the Department of Natural Resources is seeking watercraft inspector interns for the summer boating season. Positions are available in Cook, Itasca, Otter Tail and Douglas counties, as well as Brainerd, Bemidji, Rainy Lake, Lake of the Woods and the Spicer/Willmar areas. Minnesota boat inspector jobs
Quick Hits - A brief roundup of stories of interest
"A predatory Asian fish that has already spawned low-budget horror movies has again been caught in Lake Wylie, N.C. wildlife officials said Wednesday. Fisherman Gary Upton of McAdenville caught the 12-pound, 31-inch northern snakehead Sunday in the lake's Paw Creek arm in Mecklenburg County. " This new snakehead discovery is certainly bad news.
Jim Lynch of the The Detroit News reports that "Somewhere out there on the water between the United States and Canada is a line -- not something you can see, but you'd better know where it is. Crossing that line can mean several hundred dollars in fines, according to American anglers. " Read more about how Canadian authorities draw a line on fish virus
Faced with a scourge of milfoil and other invasive weeds but wary of herbicides, a Lake Maspenock (MA) support group is working with a town department to lower winter water levels and expose the plants to fatal frigid weather. In an effort to avoid the cost and impact of herbicide application they are hoping that lower winter lake levels will significantly reduce the weed problem. using harsh winter weather to manage aquatic weeds
Electric fish barrier to be activated At long last, the electric fish barrier designed to stop Asian carp from moving into the Great Lakes was activated in April. This is just one of the many stories noting this event.
Backpacker.com brings us a story and video of the invasion of Yellowstone National Park by New Zealand Mud Snails. It is great to see that general outdoor media are realizing that preventing spread is up to everyone and not just anglers. mud snails invade Yellowstone
Asian carp pose a direct threat to people as their habit of leaping high in the air when disturbed has lead to a number of human/carp collisions and injuries. fortunately, so far no one has been hit by a really large carp. How large is a really large carp? We don't know for sure how big the maximum size is but commercial fishermen in Illinois report netting a 85 - 90 lb carp. If there is ever a collision between a carp this size and somebody on a boat or jet ski it will likely be a serious problem.
A new Wisconsin fishing tournament rule that goes into effect May 1st will impact some anglers. The rule aims to reduce user conflicts and complaints about crowding by spreading out tournaments that exceed size limits and will also help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia or VHS disease. Read more about the new Wisconsin Fishing Tournament Rule
New Merchandise at the Clean Angling Store
Be sure to visit the Clean Angling Store and see the new products we have added. When you but something from the store you will show others that you have committed to doing your best to protect our waters from invaders and we will make a small profit that will help us to continue to do our work.
The Clean Angling News is regularly produced by the Center for Aquatic Nuisance Species. If you have questions, suggestions or would like to learn more about ANS please contact us: Center for Aquatic Nuisance Species
P.O. Box 1429
Livingston, MT 59047
406-220-2059
info@stopans.org |
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