Illegal sale of shiners in Nipissing

[minnkota]

The Lake Nipissing ice fishing season is ending not with a bang, but with a whimper for Billy Bob Richards.

Richards, who operates Billy Bob's Bait and Tackle on Lakeshore Drive, has been out of emerald shiners now for nearly week, a complication that has essentially shut down his bait business during March break – one of the busiest times of the season.

“I've had 400 cars pull into my lot since Friday,” said Richards, referring to the anglers he's had to turn away empty handed.

The shortage is because Richards, who gets his emerald shiners from Lake Simcoe, has to stockpile the minnows in late fall for sale during the ice fishing season.

He isn't pleased with losing a busy week of business at the end of the season, but Richards is even more concerned about the possibility emerald shiners are now being sold illegally around the lake.

Transporting the popular bait fish north of Gravenhurst has been banned since 2012 due to fears of VHS – viral hemorrhagic septicemia – a disease that threatens fish stocks, but does not pose a threat to humans.

Richards, however, is among a handful of commercial bait dealers who have been granted permission this year under their licences to bring emerald shiners north if they have been tested for VHS as part of a pilot program initiated by the Ministry of Natural Resources last fall.

But Richards said the supply of tested shiners in the province has run out. And he is concerned that the popular bait fish is still being sold locally.

“If they're selling emerald shiners that haven't been inspected and they don't have a government licence, they should be charged,” said Richards, who has taken his concerns to the MNR and Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.

MNR spokeswoman Jolanta Kowalski confirmed the ministry has received some information and is looking into the matter. But she said the MNR cannot comment on the specifics at this time.

Kowalski said anyone who has information about the illegal sale or movement of bait, or any other natural resources violations, are encouraged to call the MNR reporting line at 1-877-847-7667, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Fedeli said he has contacted the MNR and trusts that the ministry will act quickly if it finds that bait is indeed being sold illegally.

“He has some legitimate concerns,” said Fedeli, who met with Richards last week to discuss the matter.

Richards is concerned about the impact of the sale of untested and illegal emerald shiners on both his business and the lake.

The pilot program that has allowed him to sell the minnows ends March 31, at which time MNR will evaluate its future. And Richards is worried the program could be scrapped if the MNR finds that it hasn't been effective.

http://www.nugget.ca/2013/03/12/illegal-sa...iners-a-concern

[streeker02]

pure speculation and sour grapes on the part of the bait store owner IMO.

I have no real source for my statement; only the comment that "the provincial supply has ran out". I can't see how an individual operator is privy to such information....and even if he was, he has no way of knowing if other bait shops still had/have existing stockpiles (which he admittedly had as well, and has run out).

[Northhunter]

I call sour grapes as well. The "provincial supply" didn't run out. His supply ran out. I'm not in North Bay, but the local bait shop was still stocked up on legal shiners last week. I actually made the comment that last year we were told we wouldn't be getting emeralds up here, and he gave me the 411 on the whole situation... very knowledeable guy, although I don't remember everything he said. We are close enough that he's had guys in North Bay have them shipped over, which is entirely legal. He told me there was another supply lake that was not in the VHS zone, but the shiners from that population were not as "hearty" so dealers tended to stay away.

Emerald shiners aren't a very good carrier of VHS. They are a pretty fragile little fish. The disease kills them pretty quick.