Control of Nuisance Species

The tournment guys who travel from lake to lake from state to state already know about regulations and legislation concerning nuisance species. There are increasing numbers of plants and animals invading lakes and streams across this country. Some of these you may well know already such as the Zebra musscle, Eurasian water milfoil and water chestnut. Some of the ways to prevent nuisance species from spreading are before leaving the ramp, completely drain all water from your boat, including bilge water, livewells and engine cooling systems. Remove and discard all aquatic plants and animals from your equipment. Some states have a power washers for you to use to wash your boat before leaving the ramp. At home rinse boat, trailer and equipment with tap water. A bleach solution may be used to clean livewells. Don't dump your bait bucket or release live bait. Don't transport fish, other plants or animals between water bodies. Each state may have laws regulating invasive species and the fines are heavy.

There are some new diseases and parasites that are affecting fish across the nation, including a new strain of viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) found in the Great Lakes. Another is Spring Viremia of carp (SVC), a higly contagious vial disease first found in North Carolina. Another is the Largemouth Vass Virus (LMBV) has spread from the southern states to the midwest and northwest and has been found to jump to other species of fish.

Just be mindful that each state may have different laws regulating nuisance species from lake to lake and the fines may be more than one may think. Aquatic diseases and parasites can be devastating if not controlled. The fishery biologist have a difficult job trying to tract and control these organisms, animals and plants. If everyone stays informed and do our part maybe we all can keep our fisheries healthy.

Very informative well written post, I thank you for the info.

The things you listed, Asian carp, Big head Carp, Africanized bees.......seems like everybody and everything wants to come to America.

The sad thing is, most of the really devastating invasives were brought here by the .gov!!