June 2007 - Volume 68, Issue 6
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Don't Dump That Bait! continued...
“Transported” is a key word here. There are several ways that people are moving invasive species from one water body to another. Most of the time these introductions are not intentional. People don’t realize the potential impact their actions might have. That’s good news, for it means that most of these modes of transport can be stopped easily as people learn how to avoid them.
Bait Buckets
Biologists recognize “bait bucket introductions” as one of the most common means of spreading aquatic invaders. Bait bucket introductions occur when anglers dump live bait into a water body from which that bait did not originate.
It’s easy to see how this might happen. Picture yourself at your favorite fishing hole. It’s time to head home. You gather your equipment and carefully pick up any litter. Your bait bucket still contains live crayfish or minnows. Not wanting to waste these critters, you release them into the water. This practice has caused the spread of some of the most notorious invaders, including rusty crayfish and round goby, and maybe even zebra mussels.
The solution to bait bucket introductions is simple. Anglers shouldn’t dump their leftover bait in Missouri waters at the end of a fishing trip.
Alternatives to dumping include taking your bait home to use on a future fishing trip, offering it to another angler to use, dumping it on land far away from any waterway or placing it in a sealed container in the trash.
Releasing Captives
Another dangerous practice that appears to be increasing is that of “liberating” or releasing aquatic creatures that have been held captive in private aquariums or ponds.
The fish or animals may have grown too large to be confined, or their owners may no longer have the time or inclination to care for them. Many people believe the humane thing to do with unwanted fish or other animals is to release them into the wild.
Actually, this practice often causes harm to many other animals and can completely upset balanced ecological systems. Because of the severe damage even a single release can engender, the Conservation Department suggests that creatures kept in aquariums or ponds should ever be released to the wild. If a person feels they can no longer care for an animal, we recommend the following alternatives:
About This Article
Authors
Invasive Species Coordinator BRIAN CANADAY
works statewide on aquatic and terrestrial
invasive species issues. he lives on a small farm
in southern Boone County with his wife, Bridget,
their two children, Joshua and Haley, and
their dog, Scooby. They enjoy boating, fishing,
hunting and camping in Missouri and beyond.
BOB DISTEFANO, a resource scientist for the
Department since 1986, researches stream
life and coordinates crayfish conservation and
management. He enjoys working with students,
making his tolerant wife and kids happy,
laughing at life and chasing other animals
through woods and streams and eating them.
CHRIS RIGGERT is a fisheries biologist with the
Department’s Stream Unit. He works primarily
with Missouri Stream Teams and educates citizens
about how streams function. He maintains
a strong interest in crayfish and introduced
species. He enjoys floating and fishing as much
as his wife, Jeanine, will tolerate.
