New Regulations of Concern

[Gary]

Hi all,

New regulations may be going into affect that could seriously affect tournament and pleasure fishing on Canada/USA border waters.

Click the following link for details.

bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=2102

Gary

[Pete]

Hey Gary,

This is something that has been talked about now for a couple of months. I know that there are some tournament series/circuits that will not have tournaments on the Great Lakes anymore because of this rule. Although, someone did bring up a good point on another site. They said although we are not allowed to bring the fish across the "imaginary border" there is nothing preventing the bass/fish to swim across during migratory patterns?? So you have to question the judgement of the officials for making this rule.

If this disease comes from Europe, then perhaps stiffer fines should be levied to the ocean freighters that empty their bilges in fresh waters like the St. Lawrence.

Pete

[parker]

Hey guys ,

after researching this a bit more I have to say, first this. It will have No impact on pleasure fishing? If you want to keep the fish, you just have to Kill it.

Secondly , Pete you are right in saying if the cross the line, but if the fish is in the livewell and the area you are bringing it from is an infected area? Past studies of this disease has shown that not all area's are affected in a body of water, but the disease could be transported to the area via a weakened fish in your livewell.

I look at this in a more positive way, a lot of tournaments have boundary's? The boundary lines just changed a bit? Fish the water in your State or Province , lets see who the real fisherman are

God Bless,
Jeremy

[Gary]

All good points guys, but I still feel it's a knee-jerk reaction. However, large tournament organizations such as BASS and FLW are trying negotiate exemptions from the rules. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

And has anybody read anything about if fish infected with VHS are safe to eat? I haven't seen much about that.

Gary

[parker]

Hey Gary,

I guess I'm not understanding what you are trying to say?

If they have found this disease, they have to try and limit the spread? So the first thing you would do is quarantine it? Would you not agree? If this means to limit the movemnt of fish,so be it!

Until such times as you can figure out how to stop it or control it?

No I have not seen any articles on if fish are safe to eat with this

God Bless,
Jeremy

[Gary]

Jeremy,

Absolutely it must be quarantined, I just don't know if disallowing a bass caught in Ontario waters on the St. Lawrence (To use one of the cited examples.) to be brought over to NY waters on the St. Lawrence is really a quarantine. I suppose, though, that if a body of water is large enough, that situation would work.

Gary