The Department of Natural Resources Commission has discovered a deadly virus has infected Michigan waters and local bait shops are trying to prevent the virus from spreading.
The virus, called viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), causes hemorrhaging in a fish’s the liver, spleen, and intestines. Death is usually caused by organ failure and does not harm warm-blooded animals.
VHS has already taken substantial fish mortalities in Lake St. Clair, Erie and Huron and there needs to be immediant action to prevent further problems, according to the DNR.
The new rules set forth by the department are not to protect humans, but to protect the fish and the fish industry as a whole. Effective June 28, bait shops that sell minnows must know where they come from and have them certified as safe to use. The shop owner must tell the angler specifically which body of water he or she can use the bait in.
After the purchase of the minnows it is up to the customer to use the bait as told, and minnows must be used within seven days of purchase or be disposed of. Also, fish should not be trasnfered from one body of water to another.
Ron Jedlickie, owner of Hook Line & Sinker in Lake Orion, said there are 37 infected species listed on the Fish Disease Control Order, such as Walleye and Burbot.
‘I am not currently stocking any of them, but come winter and ice-fishing season my number one seller, Emerald Shiners, are on the list,? he said.
As of right now, Jedlickie doesn’t know exactly how all the new rules and information on VHS are going to effect his business, but he and his wholesaler are sure it’s going to raise the price of minnows.
‘The State of New York has already enforced the process since October 2006,? said Jedlickie. ‘They (the bait shops and wholesalers in New York) are already expressing their concerns about the process because they do not understand how the DNR is going to enforce their orders.?
A lot of the new rules lay in the hands of the anglers and Jedlickie feels many people will not take the time to follow the rules.
‘How would the DNR know?? he said.
This makes Jedlickie worry about how it will effect his business and local anglers.
‘We want to make sure that the public will be correctly informed. We don’t want them to think that this effects humans,? said Jedlickie.