|
Fishing News
Archives
Back To
Contact Us
Zeiners
Bass Shop
Kansas Angler
Swim
Tail Lures
|
|
sponsored by
Zeiner's Bass Shop
The Kansas Angler Online
and Swim Tail Lures |
PROPOSED FISHING BAIT REGULATIONS AIM AT INVASIVE
SPECIES
Blog comments invited on bait recommendations
July 20, 2006 - PRATT -- Controlling
the spread of non-native wildlife and plants in Kansas depends
on the assistance of the state's citizens. Precautions taken
by anglers and boaters, for example, help prevent the spread
of troublesome aquatic species such as zebra mussels and white
perch.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is considering regulatory
changes aimed at enhancing efforts to control the spread of aquatic
nuisance species (ANS). One proposed strategy involves limiting
the use of nuisance species sometimes used for fish bait. Fishing
regulation changes have been discussed in a series of public
meetings conducted around the state earlier this year, as well
as in meetings of the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission. The
changes will be discussed again in public meetings of the commission
in August and October.
Among changes proposed are the following:
* eliminate the definition of "bait fish"
and create a list of fish species legal for use as bait. Among
species recommended for that list are goldeye, gizzard shad,
goldfish, red shiner, common carp, golden shiner, fathead minnow,
black bullhead, yellow bullhead, freshwater drum, green sunfish,
orange-spotted sunfish, bluegill, longear sunfish, and redear
sunfish (5-inch maximum length limit on all sunfish species).
The same list would apply to bait dealers;
* prohibit seining and use of cast nets in department-managed
impoundments smaller than 500 surface acres;
* prohibit the use of aquatic nuisance species
as live bait, and require that no ANS caught be returned to the
water alive. Aquatic nuisance species include white perch, rudd
minnow, bighead carp, silver carp, black carp, stickleback, round
goby, ruffe, and rusty crayfish; and
* prohibit the transportation or use of bait taken
by legal means to another stream or impoundment, or to be transported
above any upstream dam from the site where the bait is collected.
One goal is to help keep common species common,
as described in the department's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
Plan, which can be viewed on the department's website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.
Aquatic nuisance species can have serious negative impacts on
native species by out-competing them for food and space.
Interested persons may visit the department's blog to submit comments on the
recommendations.
Back to
Zeiner's Bass Shop | Kansas
Angler Online |
Swim Tail Lures
|
|
|