Minnow harvest banned by province in effort to slow deadly disease
Move could affect tackle and bait businesses
By Jeff Helsdon STAFF WRITER
Monday January 22, 2007
The days of grabbing a couple dozen minnows and going to catch a meal of Lake Erie perch may be a thing of the past.
Due the outbreak of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), commercial harvest of minnows from Lake Erie has been banned by the provincial government. The deadly disease has been found in Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Species affected to date are perch, muskellunge, freshwater drum (sheepshead) and gobies. Another 10 species, including walleye and bass, have tested positive for VHS in other waters.
The disease poses no risk to humans, either through eating fish infected with it or handling them.
VHS was first noticed in the Great Lakes in 2005 when about 30,000 drum were found dead. Last year, tens of thousands of perch and drum were found dead in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie’s western basin. A test to confirm the presence of VHS was only developed last year.
Although the source of VHS is not known, it is closely related to a strain found in Atlantic Canada. There, it only affects saltwater fish, not freshwater species.
In last week’s announcement, the province was divided into three zones. The infected zone includes all areas south of Highways 401 and 402 all the way across the province. Live bait fish cannot be commercially harvested in this zone or transported north of the two highways.
In the buffer zone, which is north of Highways 401 and 402 to a line from approximately Parry Sound to south of Ottawa, baitfish can be harvested and used, or transported into the infected zone. Minnows harvested in this area cannot be transported into the virus-free zone.
The remainder of Ontario, to the north of the buffer zone, is known as the virus-free zone.
The main issue, according to bait retailers and anglers, is most of the bait for the entire province is harvested in Lake Erie and the Niagara River. While being deemed an interim measure, the restrictions are already affecting ice fishing across the province.
John Cooper, spokesman for the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Lake Erie Management Unit, said he has already had one phone call from a Lake Nigotcha6 business that said they now have ice, but no minnows.
John Aker, owner of Aker’s Ice Fishing on Long Point Bay, said he’s still waiting for ice, but minnows are the only bait he uses in the winter. When contacted about the ban, he still didn’t know all the details or how it would affect his business. He also noted that he sells a lot of minnows to his customers in the summer.
Rick Levick, president of Long Point Bay Anglers, said perch is the most popular fish among the group’s members and minnows are the Number 1 bait choice. He said there aren’t a lot of artificial bait alternatives.
Levick was concerned of the effect on tackle shops and bait dealers, especially after the government banned the sale of crayfish earlier in the year.
“It’s like a double whammy for the traditional live bait fisherman,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of the ban extending into spring or summer, Cooper said, “It’s indefinite right now until we know more about this virus and how it spreads.”
He admitted there might be a big impact on anglers and bait dealers. There is not, however, at this time any consideration of a compensation plan for them. Cooper said that could be addressed later.
“This is a new virus we know little about,” he said. “We’re taking steps to slow down the spread of the virus into inland lakes. We won’t stop it because it will be transmitted from fish to fish through normal activities.”
Cooper also pointed out New York State put in place similar measures because of VHS.
Wayne May, who owns the Sandboy Marina and Green Wing Charters, said the ban could hit him on both fronts if it carries through into summer. On the charter boat, he uses minnows, crayfish and worms for bait. Now, the first two are banned.
“Emerald shiners are the best bait for Lake Erie,” he said. “It’s native to Lake Erie and that’s why it’s best.”
May sells a lot of minnows and crayfish from his marina, a business that could also be impacted. He also said about 75 per cent of the people who rent docks or boathouses main interest is fishing, not pleasure boating. May said if nothing changes, it could have more widespread ramifications.
“If you can’t get bait, it’s going to affect boat rentals, dock rentals and boathouse rentals,” he said.
Ray Ferris of Old Cut Boat Livery said perch is the species the majority of anglers on the bay fish for in the spring and fall. He said there is no other bait that can be used at that time.
Ferris predicted huge implications for the economy of Long Point and Port Rowan.
“It will kill me,” he said. “That’s a lot of my business. It will hurt everybody.”
A few miles down the lakeshore in Port Burwell, Gord Booth of Kingfisher Bait and Charters said it would devastate the town during the summer, as minnows are the main bait for perch fishing.
“This little town of Port Burwell runs on fishing in the summer,” he said. “If there’s no bait - man, oh man . . .”
One of Levick’s concerns was the fact the ministry slammed the proverbial barn door closed after the horse ran away.
“The reality is minnows migrate and so do the larger fish,” he said. “I don’t know this will have the desired effect the ministry hopes it will. It just seems like the easy thing to do.”
Levick was disappointed there was no consultation with the effected bait dealers or anglers. He said, for instance, a compromise might be all the minnows harvested in Long Point Bay would have to be used in the bay.
Playing the devil’s advocate, Levick quickly noted that although that is a reasonable solution that would be a compromise for anglers and business, it would be difficult to enforce when the ministry has too few conservation officers.
Cooper said tests of emerald shiners and rainbow trout from Long Point Bay both came back negative.
“This little town of Port Burwell runs on fishing in the summer,” he said. “If there’s no bait - man, oh man . . .”
Minnow harvest banned by province in effort to slow deadly disease
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