New Rules Protect Fish In Wisconsin

The state is taking tougher action to protect fish in Wisconsin's waters. A disease has been found in fish in some waters of the state.

A new set of emergency rules were approved October 24th by the state Natural Resources Board. The rules tell the state Department of Natural Resources what to do. Fishermen have to follow the rules, too.

Under the new rules, fish must be dead when they are moved from a lake or body of water. The rules apply to the entire state. The rules also prohibit transporting water from one water system to another. A water system is a lake, river or stream.

Water must be drained from boats and tanks before they leave a water system.

Mike Staggs explained how the rule applies to bait. Staggs is director of Fisheries Management and Protection at the DNR.

'It's okay to use (bait) where you want,' Staggs said. 'However, if you take it out on a lake and use it, that's it. You can only use it in one place.'

Virus can live 14 days
Many anglers mix their live bait with water from where they are fishing. The virus can survive in fish and water up to 14 days.

The new rules replace a weaker set of rules that expired September 5th.

The old rules applied only to waters where the virus was found. Those waters are Lakes Michigan and Superior, Lake Winnebago and the Mississippi River system.

The new rules apply to the whole state because officials want to prevent the disease from spreading. The Natural Resources Board will consider a permanent set of rules in December or later.

Not harmful to humans
The fish virus is not harmful to humans. But it kills about 25 types of fish. Tourists spend lots of money in Wisconsin on fishing. The fishing industry is said to be worth more than a billion dollars a year in the state.

Fish that are infected with the virus may not have any signs that people can detect by looking at them. The virus has been found in other states.

Nobody knows for sure where the virus came from. Scientists think it may have come from ballast water in ships from other countries. Water is stored in the bottom of large ships to help balance the ship. The water is dumped when the ship arrives at the place where its cargo is unloaded.

The new rules do not apply to registered bait dealers. The state has 90 legal bait dealers.

More information is available on the DNR website at: www.dnr.wi.gov/fish/pages/vhs_rules.html