Minnow harvest ban, other VHS fish disease rules in effect on Lake Superior

[Woody]

News Release Published: January 28, 2010 by the Central Office

MADISON – News that traces of vhs fish disease have been found in low levels in fish from some parts of Lake Superior won’t change state VHS rules but underscores the need for anglers, boaters and bait harvesters to follow those rules, state fisheries officials say.

Key among those rules is a ban on harvesting minnows from Lake Superior and tributaries up to the first dam impassable by fish, and requirements that no live fish moved away from a lake or river.

“VHS is a very serious fish disease with the potential to kill a lot of fish,” says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin’s fisheries director.”Cornell’s findings really highlight the need for everybody to continue taking the steps to prevent spreading this VHS to our inland lakes and rivers.”

Cornell University researchers on Jan. 27, 2010, announced that they had found genetic material of the virus in low levels in fish from four of seven areas tested in Lake Superior, including the Duluth-Superior Harbor. VHS, which stands for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is not a human health risk but can infect dozens of native fish species and can cause them to bleed to death.

Wisconsin included Lake Superior and its connecting waters in rules originally passed in 2007 and made permanent in 2008 in its definition of waters infected by VHS. Lake Superior is connected to waters which already had the virus at the time.

Bait harvest is prohibited in infected waters, in addition to the other statewide rules. “Infected waters” are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the Winnebago System and the Mississippi River, and all of their connecting waters up to the first dam impassable to fish. A listing of all  affected waters can be found online.

Under VHS statewide rules:

Minnow harvesting of any kind is not allowed on any VHS affected waters (including Lake Superior and tributaries).

All anglers and boaters statewide are required to drain all water from the fishing and boating equipment when leaving the lake or entering the state (except drinking water and a small amount of water to move minnows as described below).

All anglers statewide may not move live fish or fish eggs away from any water with the exception of minnows purchased from a registered Wisconsin bait dealer and used under certain condition. Such leftover minnows can be used again on the same water, or they can be used elsewhere if the angler did not add lake or river water or other fish to their bait container.

Use of dead fish for bait is not allowed except on the waters from which they were taken or if they were preserved by a method that does not require freezing or refrigeration. Watch  "Preserving Your Bait" for accepted methods.