Please see the attached…

Please see the attached document for comments submitted on the 13th of November, 2019 on behalf of WCS Canada for ERO Posting No. 019-0518.

In this document, we make eight (8) recommendations based on the draft Sustainable Bait Management Strategy presented by OMNRF.

Recommendation 1. MNRF should consider the ecological value and significance of baitfish species to freshwater systems as equal to their economic value in Ontario.

Recommendation 2. Misidentification of bait species should be added as a way in which non-target species and disease may be introduced to aquatic ecosystems.

Recommendation 3. We recommend the complete ban of live bait in Ontario.

Recommendation 4. Reduce the number of permitted baitfish and investigate the misidentification of baitfish in Ontario by commercial harvesters, bait shops, and anglers (“2.1 Permitted Baitfish Species”).

Recommendation 5. Provide scientific evidence that commercial bait operators do not require any possession limits (“2.2 Possession Limits”)

Recommendation 6. Conform Bait Management Zone (BMZs) to follow watershed boundaries more closely (“3.1 Bait Management Zones”).

Recommendation 7. Restrict the movement and use of bait throughout the far north in Ontario (“3.2 Exceptions to the Movement of Bait”)

Recommendation 8. Prohibit the use and storage of bait in rivers and streams with Brook Trout in addition to lakes.

However, please see the full attached document for our discussion of and details pertaining to these eight (8) recommendations.

If there are any issues viewing the attached pdf, please contact Claire Farrell at either cfarrell@wcs.org or 1-807-285-9125

Thank you.