Ontario Provincial Bait Review

Provincial Bait Policy Review- Commercial Sale and Transport, Allocation and Reporting of Baitfish and Leeches in Ontario		Mini 15
Keyword(s):   Fish and Wildlife  |  Water  |  Conservation
Comment Period: 45 days: submissions may be made between June 08, 2015 and July 23, 2015.
Description of Policy: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is undergoing a comprehensive review of provincial bait policies to help improve the management of bait (i.e., baitfish and leeches). There are five topics being addressed by the policy review: 1) Angler Use and Movement; 2) Parks and Protected Areas; 3) Commercial Sale and Transport; 4) Allocation; and 5) Reporting. The intent of the review is to determine how the ecological risks associated with the movement and use of bait can be minimized to help maintain healthy fisheries across the province, while also reducing the complexity of current management regimes and increasing business certainty to the bait industry. MNRF is not considering provincial scale prohibitions on the harvest, use or sale of baitfish and leeches as part of this review. The following goals have been established to guide the policy review: 1) Bait is managed to protect the health of aquatic ecosystems. 2) Sustainable use of bait resources enhances the quality of life for Ontarians by providing recreational, social and economic benefits. 3) Bait is managed to conserve the resource and maintain a viable bait industry. 4) Bait management is adaptable, effective, consistent across the province and simple to implement. The harvest and use of live bait has been an important part of Ontario’s fishing industry for nearly a century and the commercial bait industry employs thousands of Ontarians. In 2013 there were 1159 licensed commercial operators 447 Licenced Commercial Harvesters, 382 Commercial Dealers, 67 Tourist Harvesters and 263 Tourist Dealers. While the commercial bait industry provides significant benefit to the provincial economy and the recreational fishery, the movement of live bait poses ecological risks related to the spread of disease and invasive species and poses a significant risk to Ontario’s fisheries, protected areas and biodiversity. Recently, management of the bait resource has become more challenging due to new environmental pressures (e.g., invasive species, diseases) that can threaten the health of fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. This policy proposal addresses the final three topics of the review: Commercial sale and transport; allocation; and reporting. Specifically, MNRF is evaluating potential options relating to the following aspects of the management of commercial bait: 1) The scale at which commercial harvesters and dealers can move bait; 2) Testing programs to screen commercial bait for disease and invasive species; 3) The level of certification and training that should be required by licenced commercial bait harvesters, dealers and their designates in Ontario; 4) Bait harvest in species at risk areas (not including provincial parks and conservation reserves); 5) Storage of commercial bait in Ontario waters; 6) Harvest and storage gear restrictions; 7) Alignment of Bait Harvest Areas (BHA) to other management boundaries; 8) Allocation of bait resources within a BHA; 9) Valuation of the bait resource; 10) Existing commercial bait licence structure; 11) Record keeping and reporting; and 12) Compliance framework. MNRF has been working with an external stakeholder group (Bait Review Advisory Group (BRAG)) to look at all possible approaches with respect to bait use and movement by anglers, including the status quo. Options have been put forward and evaluated based on how well they meet the goals of the review. MNRF is soliciting feedback to help inform the review and refine the final policy options. Purpose of Policy: To invite comments on the proposed policy options being considered for managing the commercial sale and transport; allocation; and reporting of bait (i.e., baitfish and leeches). Other Information: In conjunction with this Environmental Registry posting, a short online survey has been set up as a way of providing input into the possible range of policy options. The survey includes information about the options, and brief questions for ranking preferences. The survey can be found at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PJ6GDL7 For those who do not wish to complete the survey, the same information about the draft policy options that is included in the survey can be found at the following link: http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/Policy_Options_for_Commercial_topics_June4.pdf The following web links provide supporting information: Provincial Bait Policy Review Information notice advises the public of the provincial bait policy review being conducted by MNRF. Search ER# 012-1043 http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ Provincial Bait Policy Review- Angler Use and Movement of Baitfish in Ontario Policy proposal notice seeks feedback from the public on policy options associated with the angler use and movement of bait in Ontario. Search ER# 012-2836 http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ Provincial Bait Policy Review - Bait Use and Commercial Harvest in Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Policy proposal notice seeks feedback from the public on policy options associated with bait use and harvest in Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves in Ontario. Search ER# 012-2835 http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/  Licenced Commercial Bait in Ontario – 2013, 2012 and 2011 Annual Summaries These documents are the most recent summary of commercial bait licencing and harvest in Ontario based on the annual reporting cycle.  Report – Licenced Commercial Bait in Ontario 2013 Annual Summary http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/2013AnnualBaitSummary_FINAL_AODA.pdf Report – Licenced Commercial Bait in Ontario 2012 Annual Summary http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/2012AnnualBaitSummary_FINAL_AODA.pdf Report – Licenced Commercial Bait in Ontario 2011 Annual Summary http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/2011AnnualBaitSummary_FINAL_ADOA.pdf The Management of Bait in Ontario: A Review This document provides information on the live bait industry in Ontario, including types of bait used, licence sales and harvest, economics, and the current approaches and challenges to bait management in Ontario and in other North American jurisdictions. http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/management-bait-ontario-review Risks and Impacts of Spreading Aquatic Invasive Species by the Recreational Use of Bait: A Literature Review (Kerr 2013) This report reviews the recreational use of bait as a pathway for introducing and spreading aquatic invasive species and potential impacts to fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/the-introduction-and-spread-of-aquatic-invasive-species-through-the-recrreational-use-of-bait.pdf Permitted Baitfish Species This document identifies the 48 species of legal baitfish in Ontario http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/what-kinds-baitfish-can-i-use-live-bait Bait for Personal Use This document provides details on possession limits, allowable capture methods and other conditions related to live bait. http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/fishing-live-bait Fisheries Management Zone (FMZ) maps This map shows the 20 different Fisheries Management Zones in the province. http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/fisheries-management-zones Public Consultation: This proposal has been posted for a 45 day public review and comment period starting June 08, 2015. If you have any questions, or would like to submit your comments, please do so by July 23, 2015 to the individual listed under "Contact". Additionally, you may submit your comments on-line. All comments received prior to July 23, 2015 will be considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry if they are submitted in writing or electronically using the form provided in this notice and reference EBR Registry number 012-4222. Please Note: All comments and submissions received will become part of the public record. You will not receive a formal response to your comment, however, relevant comments received as part of the public participation process for this proposal will be considered by the decision maker for this proposal.