Fish and Wildlife Board imposing emergency baitfish rules

Print More

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board has enacted new emergency rules for the handling of bait fish as a way to prevent a deadly fish disease from reaching the state.

The rules are to stop the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, which was recently discovered in the Great Lakes and affects 37 species of fish, and has been found in three of New York’s Finger Lakes.

The disease can kill tens of thousands of fish at a time.

Some of the highlights of the rules include a requirement that anglers buy from state-approved bait dealers, bait fish can only be used on one body of water and unused baitfish must be destroyed and properly disposed of.

Comments are closed.