From Green Right Now Reports
Just in time for spring, anglers and recreational boaters in the Midwest are hearing grim news about recreational waterways.
There is evidence that the voracious Asian carp has been detected in all of the Great Lakes and that the contagious fish disease VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is now in waters as far north and west as Lake Superior. The disease can affect a number of recreational and sport fish species such as muskellunge, small mouth bass, and yellow perch as well as a number of baitfish and commercial fish.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says that prime waters can still be protected by the people who use them, particularly small bodies of water, streams and rivers where diseases and destructive invaders have not been detected. The department offers these simple steps to preserve the health of wild fish species for generations to come:
1. Thoroughly clean and dry all fishing and boating equipment including bait buckets, boots, boats, and trailers with HOT water.
2. Empty all water from equipment including buckets and bilges.
3. Remove all visible mud, plants and aquatic life from equipment before transporting.
4. Do not move fish and plants from one body of water to another.
5. Buy bait from certified bait dealers and dispose of unused bait in a secure trash area away from the water.