Pro angler Joe Bucher and Wisconsin Foodie help prevent spread of aquatic invasive species Help highlight need to drain water from bilge, live well, buckets MADISON – Pro angler Joe Bucher and Wisconsin Foodie (both links exit DNR) chef and host Kyle Cherek are teaming up with the state to help raise awareness among anglers of key steps they must take to avoid spreading invasive species to more lakes and rivers. The two TV personalities are part of a new campaign being launched by the Department of Natural Resources and partners to get more anglers to drain water from their live wells and buckets holding their day’s catch before they leave the shore or the boat landing. Microscopic invasive species like spiny water fleas and zebra mussel larvae may be in the water and hitch a ride to the next lake. Bucher and Cherek are featured in radio advertisements that air statewide this month to remind anglers of these steps to drain water and to encourage them to put their fish on ice as a way to keep the fish fresh and avoid problems with water-borne invasives. Also as part of the campaign, DNR staff and volunteers will be handing out ice packs at boat landings on June 15-16 as part of a statewide effort and partnering bait shops and convenience stores will have reminders on the bait coolers for anglers who want to pick up extra. To listend to the audio files, search the DNR website for Draining Campaign and click on the links under "hear the radio spots." “Using ice isn’t required but law, it’s a great way to keep fish fresh and avoid problems with forgetting to drain water from your catch,” says Bob Wakeman, who coordinates aquatic invasive species efforts for DNR. “We’re glad to have Joe and Kyle help us get out the message on what to do and why it’s important.” Wakeman notes that anglers have high awareness of some rules to avoid spreading invasive species – inspecting their boats, fishing gear and trailer for plants and animals and pulling off anything they see – but surveys show much lower awareness of rules related to draining water. Wisconsin’s invasive species laws prohibit the transport of lake or river water and “live” fish, or in other words, fish still in water. Once fish are out of water, they aren’t considered live and can be safely transported home, Wakeman says. Watercraft inspection surveys of boaters show that more than 90 percent of boaters say they are aware of Wisconsin’s laws to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, up from just 21 percent in 2004. But knowledge of, and compliance with, draining laws is lower, evidenced by 2009 statewide survey results showing one-third of respondents thought it was legal to leave the landing with water on board and two-thirds thought it was legal to leave with live fish. Deborah Seiler, aquatic invasive species outreach coordinator for DNR and UW-Extension, says the “drain” campaign came about based on feedback from anglers. “Across the state, anglers were telling us the rules on fish and water transport just aren’t as clear to them. The DNR listened, and we’re trying to help spread the word,” Seiler said. At the end of the day, Seiler says, anglers remain some of Wisconsin’s most passionate advocates for protecting lakes from invasive species. “Although not everyone has gotten the message about water yet, we hear time and again from anglers that they will take time to remove and drain invasive species from their boats just because it’s the right thing to do, and they want to keep lakes healthy for their children. No one wants to bring zebra mussels to a new lake just because they forgot to pull the plug,” Seiler said. These are the steps anglers should take every time they leave the water. • INSPECT boats, trailers and equipment. • REMOVE all attached aquatic plants and animals. • DRAIN all water from boats, vehicles, equipment including live wells and buckets containing fish. • NEVER MOVE plants or live fish away from a water body. • DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash BUY minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer. Leftover minnows can be taken away from any state water and used again on that same water. Leftover minnows may be used on another water body only if no lake or river water or other fish were added to their container.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:10:16 +0000
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