Another Lake Infested.....

[wx_nut]

I'm so mad right now, I don't even know where to begin. This is one of my favorite little fishing spots, and now because someone was ignorant and flaunted the law, chances are it's infected.

http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/2011/12/30/man-charged-under-new-invasive-species-rules/

I _REALLY_ hope this guy gets the max.

Mods, feel free to move if nec'y.

[itchmesir]

Quote:

George Joseph Wynn, 54, is charged with transferring water equipment with invasive species attached, a misdemeanor.

it's a misdemeanor.. meaning he'll face like a maximum $200 fine

[RumRiverRat]

What should it be a felony?

The prisons and jails are crowded enough as it is.

Should the guy be in jail or prison?

[panfishpounder00]

And thats the debate! To most fishermen/women, they should get a felony charge, but lets be realistic, as stated above, the jails are already crowded as it is! to the recreational angler its an inconvenience, but to us who depend on fishing as a livley hood it becomes a real concern! i witnessed, almost everyday while pulling my boat out, anglers dumping bait buckets with live minnows, and not checking the boat for weeds or invasives!! it really [PoorWordUsage] me off!! people even see me pull up and know that im an outfitter with the decals on the boat, i say something and instantly they wanna fight? i say they need more CO's but again realisticlly wont happen, but how bout giving the juristictional peace officer the authority to write ciatations? lets face it, the sheriff's dept is already on most of the bigger lakes with boats looking for bui/bwi offenders anyway, how bout adding some DNR duties as well? what else are they going to do?, sit at the local gas station or fast food joint and B.S. until they get a call? wich i also see every night!

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, this issue is really important--and depressing. Like any public resource--whether that's unemployment insurance or public lakes and rivers--there's bound to be illegality and abuse, and I don't know of a realistic solution.

[hanson]

What I'm really upset about is this invasion of invasives is pretty much pinned on the fisherman.

We now have boat plug laws, bait laws, a big expense to the DNR trying to educate and prevent AIS, and a gate at Christmas Lake that is somehow supposed to stop fisherman from infesting the lake with invasives.

The example cited in the article and the last few lakes that have become infested have been infested by lakeshore owners and their boat lifts and docks and not fisherman dumping their bait buckets.

DNR probably needs to focus their efforts on any roll-a-dock or boat lift on the highway near infested lakes. Just a thought...

[laker1]

Peer pressure by anglers and home owners has to be stepped up. Fishermen were complaining big time on new rules to slow down the spread of diseases. How often have you been at a access when a fishermen been on the lake all day,but once he hits the landing he has zero time and puts zero effort to clean up his boat and trailer etc..

[SandPoint]

Well said hanson, the DNR is started to think this is how it's being spread.

[bobbymalone]

What I'm really upset about is this invasion of invasives is pretty much pinned on the fisherman.

We now have boat plug laws, bait laws, a big expense to the DNR trying to educate and prevent AIS, and a gate at Christmas Lake that is somehow supposed to stop fisherman from infesting the lake with invasives.

The example cited in the article and the last few lakes that have become infested have been infested by lakeshore owners and their boat lifts and docks and not fisherman dumping their bait buckets.

DNR probably needs to focus their efforts on any roll-a-dock or boat lift on the highway near infested lakes. Just a thought...

To be fair, i'm thinking boats are probably a little more promiscuous than docks and boat lifts. Not that there isn't a concern as shown in the article.

[Scott M]

In 2011, the Legislature passed a number of new laws related to prevention and management of aquatic invasive species that apply to boaters, property owners, service providers, bait dealers and others involved with the transportation of water-related equipment. Hopefully the future gets better. Prior to these laws, it's been the wild wild west with nothing on the books. Not sure who's duty it is to enforce them, so who knows how effective they'll be. Pretty paltry fine compared to the economic consequences of invasion...I don't know who in this day in age can't recognize a heap of zeebs crusted onto the stanchions of a dock. Maybe somebody that lives under a rock. Too easy to claim ignorance, but you can't prove intent and negligence falls to the side so often.

[Riverratpete]

Ever heard of "Loving our lakes to death?" thats exactly whats going on in this state with all the lakeshore development, shoreline erosion due to runoff, destroying of lake vegetation for that "perfect beach" planting grass right to the waters edge..I love it when lakeshore owners throw stones..pretty soon lakes won't be worth dirt and all that will have happened is people moved Minnetonka north..good luck.