2022 Regs, New BMZ Rules

[HookMeUp]

Hi all, here is the Ontario Regs for 2022.

Of note is the new Bait Management Zones (BMZ) rules which raise many issues - I believe we speculated on these many months back.

https://files.ontario.ca/ndmnrf-2022-fishin...-2021-12-13.pdf

[reelinginthebigone]

Hey great info, thanks for sharing.

[Omcdinosaur]

Now even the Ontario gov't is on the Declare your prime residence business...on a baitfish regulation for gosh sakes. I realize the reasoning around this legislation, but, not being able to trap minnows at a cottage I own, and then declaring to the gov't Prime residence designation? This insidious crap, which, like the new question on our tax forms about disposing of prime residence, is nothing more than various gov't lawyers 'adding in' wording to get you used to having your inheritance stolen from your children. AND using the brigade of honest Ontarian anglers to 'promote responsible baitfish use'? "intended future use" holy mother of.... SHAME on the OMNR and Doug Ford.

[Seguin Fisher]

Thanks. Just downloaded it to my iBooks.

[HookMeUp]

OMC - not on board with the tax side but the cottage trapping what I noticed. If you trap your own it has to be in the zone of your primary residence. It would seem that anyone fishing outside their BMZ like at a cottage would not be allowed to trap their own minnows. Heck that was always a fun activity for the kids to do - set out a trap with bread and see if they could catch some minnows to later fish with. Odd consequence.
Could it be to prevent people from buying minnows outside BMZ and transporting, but later saying they were personally trapped?
Of course even with the law it depends on enforcement - I can’t see CO’s charging kids because they’re using a bait trap outside their primary residence BMZ.

[Longshank]

omg......can it get more ridiculous

fact is this will not prevent invasives from entering other water bodies.....will slowit down, but boats going lake to lake, birds will still do the job

[Disco]

Here is the BMZ zone map.

In my circumstance my family cottage is still in my BMZ.

I can see how it’s unfair to have a primary res in Southern Ontario and have a cottage several hours north and not to be able to trap minnows at all. Seems drastic but so are invasive species.
I guess doing nothing about invasive species is worse than having a plan that makes some people unhappy.