04-12-2011, 11:10 AM
Over the past three years, North Dakota has implemented several new rules intended to reduce the risk of aquatic nuisance species transfer throughout the state.
The most recent of those rules, according to State Game and Fish Department fisheries chief Greg Power, is a requirement that anglers in all cases must now drain their boat's livewell when leaving a lake or river. Previously, anglers could maintain water in their livewell if they were transporting fish.<br />
"This new rule went into effect last October," Power said, "but this spring is the first time most anglers will be affected by it."<br />
Pulling plugs and draining water from livewells, baitwells and bilges must be conducted within the access site, which includes parking lots immediately adjacent to the ramp. Anglers should continue to practice proper boat ramp etiquette, Power said, by pulling their boat away from the ramp during busy times to complete all needed draining.<br />
Anglers may use ice in a container to transport fish away from a water body, Power noted.<br />
Also part of the October 2010 rule change is that traditional bait buckets and/or any container of five gallons or less in volume can be used to transport legal live baitfish and other bait in water. All other fish species, including game fish, may not be held in water and/or transported in bait buckets/containers when away from a water body. Game fish cannot be held in water in any container (e.g. cooler) on shore, unless the water is from melting ice only.<br />
Other laws in place since 2008 include:<br />
"¢ All water and aquatic vegetation must be drained or removed from watercraft prior to entering the state. No live aquatic organisms (e.g. fathead minnows, frogs, leeches, etc.) may be imported into the state.<br />
"¢ All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats, personal watercraft, trailers and associated equipment such as fishing poles/lures before leaving a body of water. Although time out of water needed to remove aquatic vegetation is allowed, all equipment must be free of vegetation when transporting watercraft and equipment away from a boat ramp, access area or shoreline. This includes livewells and other internal compartments, and containers such as bait buckets.<br />
Reference the ANS link on the Department's website at http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/ans-faqs.html for additional information.
The most recent of those rules, according to State Game and Fish Department fisheries chief Greg Power, is a requirement that anglers in all cases must now drain their boat's livewell when leaving a lake or river. Previously, anglers could maintain water in their livewell if they were transporting fish.<br />
"This new rule went into effect last October," Power said, "but this spring is the first time most anglers will be affected by it."<br />
Pulling plugs and draining water from livewells, baitwells and bilges must be conducted within the access site, which includes parking lots immediately adjacent to the ramp. Anglers should continue to practice proper boat ramp etiquette, Power said, by pulling their boat away from the ramp during busy times to complete all needed draining.<br />
Anglers may use ice in a container to transport fish away from a water body, Power noted.<br />
Also part of the October 2010 rule change is that traditional bait buckets and/or any container of five gallons or less in volume can be used to transport legal live baitfish and other bait in water. All other fish species, including game fish, may not be held in water and/or transported in bait buckets/containers when away from a water body. Game fish cannot be held in water in any container (e.g. cooler) on shore, unless the water is from melting ice only.<br />
Other laws in place since 2008 include:<br />
"¢ All water and aquatic vegetation must be drained or removed from watercraft prior to entering the state. No live aquatic organisms (e.g. fathead minnows, frogs, leeches, etc.) may be imported into the state.<br />
"¢ All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats, personal watercraft, trailers and associated equipment such as fishing poles/lures before leaving a body of water. Although time out of water needed to remove aquatic vegetation is allowed, all equipment must be free of vegetation when transporting watercraft and equipment away from a boat ramp, access area or shoreline. This includes livewells and other internal compartments, and containers such as bait buckets.<br />
Reference the ANS link on the Department's website at http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/ans-faqs.html for additional information.