The Ontario government released its final bait management strategy to protect the province's lakes and rivers from the threat of invasive species and fish diseases.
Part of the strategy includes four bait management zones.
Live bait that is harvested in one area of the province is often shipped, sold, and later used in another region. If unused bait is not disposed of properly, invasive and other illegal bait species that may be mistakenly mixed in with the bait, or fish infected with disease, have the potential to establish new populations or infect other fish in the new water body.
Individual anglers who wish to use live bait outside of their own bait management zone will be required to purchase bait from a licensed commercial bait operator in the zone where they will be fishing.
The final Sustainable Bait Management Strategy is posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
