I think the boundaries…

I think the boundaries should be the Water Shed split it would make enforcement easier than four zones. If you look at connectivity, birds, boat traffic, anglers and many other ways that invasive species can be moved around the province the inevitable will happen. The MNR has always said they cannot stop invasive species and the like from spreading in Ontario they can only slow it down. The one area (Bait Industry) that has control on what gets moved around Ontario is the Bait Industry. They attack the industry instead of focusing on areas they have least amount of control. The MNR is looking for what’s easy for them without regard what it’s going to do to the industry and other industries that rely on the bait industry to bring people to the tourist areas. For example take a look at Lake Simcoe and the VHS in 2011 and 2012 it was a big deal and hurt the industry when they stop the movement of bait. When the industry tested the bait at the University of Guelph and proved the bait was clean they said in the spring of 2012 it was ok to move the bait. Unfortunately it was too late by then ice fishing season was over and all the bait had to be buried now that’s not CONSERVATION not at any time did the MNR or Queens Park offer to COMPENSATE. The MNR didn’t care that the Harvester lost thousands of dollars based on their decision. Now all of a sudden Lake Simcoe is not that important in this new proposal. Through the freedom of information I know for a fact the MNR with held information that Lake Simcoe had VHS and they lied about it when asked at the Lake Simcoe water shed committee. They sat back and watched the Harvester catch bait and put in their ponds in October and November knowing full well they were not going to be allowed to move and sell their bait for ice fishing. I also saw emails telling the person in charge of giving information to the Minister at the time to only give positive stuff. If anything there should be an inquiry on how the MNR conducts business.
The same thing has happened with every other species the MNR has attacked (Frogs, Crawfish, Leeches, etc.) and now minnows. What the MNR doesn’t understand the Dealers and Harvesters rely on their business to be their retirement package and every time the MNR makes decisions that affect their businesses they take away another piece of their retirement. Not like the people that make these decisions who put in their time and get a pension after 30 years. How are you going to stop 4.2 million anglers from transporting bait, the receipt idea won't work that is why the states are abandoning the program? Harvesters that have customers on the other side of the boundary would need to apply for a special permit just like the federal government does for commercial fisheries. There is no need to take bait fish from the list of native bait fish. It’s up to the Harvester to make sure he supplies a good product not the MNR responsibility. The other reason is the MNR will use it as an enforcement tool which is wrong considering the fish they want to remove are native to Ontario and not endangered.
If you have 4.2 million anglers every year and 30 to 50 percent catch their own bait once a year and these anglers are not trained in HACCP and have no idea what they are doing where you think the problem is. The Harvesters and Dealers are train in HACCP and have laws and restrictions on their license and have years of experience to know what they are catching and doing.
I think Bait fish returns should be moved to April instead of January to allow for bait caught in the fall and sold in the ice fishing season, which is January, February, and March. This would give a more accurate account of what’s been Harvested and sold from the previous year. Having Bait licenses that have not been used for five years be turned back to the crown is a wasted exercise. Any Harvester that hasn’t died will go to all areas within five years and show a gallon of bait caught. This is just another example of the MNR putting another burden on their work day that they cannot enforce. They should look at things that matter to the industry instead of ways to hinder the industry. The problem with the MNR they over manage the industry instead of looking for ways to work with the industry.
Jim Leworthy - Ontario Live Bait Angling Association (OLBAA)