EBR Registry # 012-9791 …

EBR Registry # 012-9791 Strategic Policy for Bait Management in Ontario Draft

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Bait Management Draft Strategic Policy for Ontario. We cannot forget that there are currently regulations in place that make it illegal to dump your bait bucket into the water as well as a legal list of baitfish. Anyone not following these regulations are already breaking the law. Section 3.2

Why would bait be allowed to be moved from BMZ A into BMZ’s B, C and D? At one point OMNRF was trying to limit the movement of bait between watersheds. This allows the potential for bait movement from the Arctic Watershed and the Nelson river watershed into the Atlantic watershed bringing with it the possibility of species not in that watershed. Section 3.3

What is the reasoning behind having a receipt that is only good for 2 weeks? In the document it states that anglers would be required to use or lawfully dispose of any purchased bait in that 2 week period. I do not support this. You are encouraging the waste of a resource by having to lawfully dispose of any unused bait. In the glossary of the document, bait is defined as “Live or DEAD baitfish and leeches; not crayfish, frogs or worms.” Nowhere in the body of the document does it indicate that baitfish are live or dead. I do not believe that anglers know that they would also not be able to keep dead baitfish. What is the reasoning behind not being able to keep and freeze or salt dead bait fish? Section 4.1

I do not support this. MNRF has already identified allowable bait species and movement that will not endanger the habitat in a BMZ. This in itself is enough of a restriction to protect Native Brook Trout Lakes. At this time, MFRF does not have a list of naturally reproducing Brook Trout Lakes. Section 4.2

Why is it more of a risk in a Provincial Park? With the proposed Bait Species and Movement restrictions outlined in this document how can this be. Section 4.2.3

Are the Bait Harvesters affected by the phase out process going to be compensated/offered an alternative? Or just put out of business. Section 5.0 Personal Harvest

Opposed to the requirement for a licence or log book for personal harvest. Normally, anyone who personally harvests bait does not move it a great distance. They do not have the means to keep the bait alive for long periods of time. I see no reason why the movement of personally harvested bait cannot be at the BMZ level as well. Section 7.6

Revised point system.

Rather than having the BHA be offered to Native Bands/Groups, there should only be increased weighting to individual Natives who can put forward a viable business plan and can demonstrate family ties to the commercial bait harvesting in that area. (Trap line allocation went down this road and it did not work) What happened to Fair Sharing??????????

On the Ottawa River you would be allowing the movement of bait from BMZ A, D, E and F into the river adjacent to the BMZ where it was purchased. It states that there are nine barriers that would not allow the bait to move far in the system. Has the Province of Quebec been consulted regarding the potential bait regulations changes? In particular, the Ottawa River. The Ottawa River watershed goes well into Quebec and any invasive species and/or disease would have a great affect in the portion of the watershed in Quebec. They are currently in the process of changing their regulations to disallow the use of Live Bait in the province. I believe that it is vital that the on the ground Conservation Officers be consulted regarding the changes that are being considered. They are the face of MNRF and will be the ones enforcing the changes. Whatever goes forward it would be better to implement the changes incrementally. At the very least, there needs to be good communication well ahead of time to educate the anglers on the changes.

[Original Comment ID: 209958]