Thread: KDWPT Commission Moves to Protect Kansas Waters

KANSAS WILDLIFE, PARKS AND TOURISM COMMISSION MOVES TO PROTECT KANSAS WATERS


Dec. 8, 2011

Wild-caught bait may only be used in waters where caught; other restrictions passed

TOPEKA – During a special public hearing Tuesday evening, Dec. 6, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commissioners acted on regulations governing the use and movement of wild-caught live bait fish and the transport of fish from waters designated as having aquatic nuisance species (ANS) present.

The new regulations change the way Kansas anglers collect and use live bait fish and were approved to curtail the spread of invasive aquatic species — particularly Asian carp, zebra mussels, and white perch — in Kansas lakes and streams. These and other aquatic nuisance species are often spread accidently by people using the state’s lakes and rivers.

The Commission listened to public comments and considered various options before taking action. Commissioners voted on regulations that will take effect Jan. 1, 2012 and will 1) allow anglers to use wild-caught live bait fish only in the pool of a lake or impoundment where taken; 2) prohibit anglers from transporting wild-caught bait fish taken from a flowing stream or river across any dam or natural barrier; 3) prohibit anglers from transporting any live fish upon departure from any ANS-designated body of water; 4) prohibit releasing any fish in department waters (unless the fish was caught from the water into which it is being released), navigable publicly-owned rivers, and federal reservoirs; and 4) require that vessels being removed from all waters of the state have livewells and bilges drained and drain plugs removed before transport on any public highway.

Aquatic nuisance species are animals and plants not native to Kansas that can threaten lake and river ecology, harm native or desirable species, and interfere with the state’s economy. Negative impacts on Kansas waters include, but are not limited to, the following:

• diminished food supplies and degraded habitat for other species;
• reduced numbers and variety of desirable fish;
• reduced fishing and other recreational opportunities;
• lowered property values and decreased quality of municipal water sources;
• fouled water lines, clogged intakes, burned out pumps, damaged power generating facilities, and decreased water system efficiency; and
• increased risk of flooding due to overcrowded biomass and clogging of lake outlets.

Biologists have identified the movement of wild-caught bait fish and water as a significant factor in the spread of these dangerous species. With the passage of these regulations, anglers will be restricted to using wild-caught bait fish caught only from the waters where they are fishing or using live bait fish purchased from certified bait dealers.

Anglers will not be able to transport any live fish from waters listed in the Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary (available wherever licenses are sold) as harboring ANS species. And finally, all boaters will be required to remove drain plugs and drain livewells and bilges before transporting vessels on public highways from waters of the state.

For details on aquatic nuisance species, including the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan, go online to www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/content/search?SearchText=ans .

This same law is on the books in other states. Minnesota put it in place in July of 2010. It was hashed out by a lot of arguing fishermen and seemed it was about 50/50 on support for it. Some of the things brought up were, wouldn't it be better to check the boats before they entered the water at the ramp. The invasive species are already here and to say that in a perfect scenario that this will stop the spread is rediculous. At best it will only slow it down. Personally i'm fine with the law. Some of the things the Minnesotans recomend are slitting a gill and putting the fish in the livewell then throw the fish on ice after pulling the boat out continue home and clean them. I noticed the law states any lake that has been diagnosed with an invasive species so there are some lakes that are free at this point so it appears it is a mute point if you fish those lakes however it is contradicting in itself when it goes on to say traveling down any public roads , so what exactly does it mean? What about boats that don't have a drainplug? Nature is an everchanging thing and the KDWP is just trying to do something which is what we pay them to do. If they sat back and did nothing then we would lay the blame on them for that, they're kind of in a no win situation here. It is the law and whether we like it or not it should be obeyed. If enough people don't like it then that is what voting is for. I suspect tht after a year there will be no more hoopla about it, that is how it worked out in the other states. No different than getting used to any other law that changes. I suspect it is here to stay so get used to it.