Clean Angling News October 2011

Missouri To Ban Felt in 2012    The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved a regulation change banning the use of "porous-soled waders or footwear incorporating or having attached a porous sole of felted, matted, or woven fibrous material when fishing in trout parks and other specific trout waters. Pending public comment through the Secretary of State’s office, the new regulation will go into effect March 1, 2012, the opening day of catch-and-keep fishing at Missouri’s four trout parks."     The move to ban felt in Missouri is not a surprise as we have been reporting that the rule was in preparation for nearly a year. The intent of the rule is to reduce the spread of Didymo, the invasive algae that has rapidly spread across the Eastern US. Tim Banek, invasive species coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said Didymo has prompted his agency to begin developing the regulations.  Read More   While Missouri is the latest state to institute a felt ban, we can expect that other states and jurisdictions will be considering felt bans as well. We will continue to provide a comprehensive accounting of all felt ban proposals in the US at US Felt Bans Ballast Water Remains a Threat    Ballast water continues to be the biggest problem for new international aquatic invasions. New York is set to implement strict regulations on ballast water but the move is strongly opposed by many. Perhaps most critically, the US House of Representatives is quickly working on a bill that would prevent the New York Regulations from taking effect.  Read More     While ballast water regulations are being hotly debated, the shipping industry has weighed in with the threat that hundreds of thousands of jobs may be at risk. Pointing at the economic advantages of not regulating ballast water the industry group tries to make a case that preventing invasive species is too costly. Read More Federal Response to 9/11 Benefited Invasive Species   According to a newly released AP report, "Dozens of foreign insects and plant diseases slipped undetected into the United States in the years after 9/11, when authorities were so focused on preventing another attack that they overlooked a pest explosion that threatened the quality of the nation's food supply.      At the time, hundreds of agricultural scientists responsible for stopping invasive species at the border were reassigned to anti-terrorism duties in the newly formed Homeland Security Department — a move that scientists say cost billions of dollars in crop damage and eradication efforts from California vineyards to Florida citrus groves.       The consequences come home to consumers in the form of higher grocery prices, substandard produce and the risk of environmental damage from chemicals needed to combat the pests.”  Read More Asian Carp Stories of Interest      The potential invasion of the Great Lakes bu Asian carp remains the big story. There continues to be action on the legal and legislative front while powers battle of their own interests. Here are some stories of interest.    The fight to close off the potential pathway between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi took a new turn in October when five states asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their plea for quicker federal action to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from moving between the watersheds.  Read More     While the legal fight continues, in a Purdue University Calumet classroom representatives of Great Lakes protection and advocacy groups revealed preliminary concepts to protect the world's largest surface freshwater source from Asian carp and other aquatic invaders.  Finding a cost-effective way to separate the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds to combat invasive species may be a Herculean task. And it appears potential solutions will be a tough sell.  Read More    Not everyone is convinced that Asian carp would actually cause problems in the Great Lakes, including some noted scientists. For a good overview of  both sides of this argument listen to this Podcast from Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics. In it, Dr. Gerald Smith, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan argues that the carp represent far less of a threat than believed while Dr. Michael Murray, staff scientist with the National Wildlife Federation of Michigan presents the case that the carp are a serious ecological threat.Listen Here State by State Wyoming - Wyoming's second boating season following passage of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) legislation in 2010 was deemed a success based on the numbers of boats inspected, AIS decal sales, and overall cooperation from boaters.  Read More Ohio - Quagga and Zebra mussels are being cited as a likely factor in the record algae blooms experienced on Lake Erie. NASA has released a story with fascinating space photos that show the extent of the problem.  Read More Hawaii - Patrick Dougherty, a world-renowned, award-winning artist, and approximately 150 local volunteers completed a giant, "Invasive Species" sculpture at the Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center in Makawao.  Read More Montana - The discovery of Eurasian Milfoil on Beaver Lake west of Whitefish is prompting the state to close the lake's boat ramp to prevent the spread of the aquatic weed.  Read More   Minnesota - A new electronic gate is ready to drop its arm across the public boat ramp on Christmas Lake, if the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources approves its use in an experiment aimed at stopping the spread of zebra mussels   Read More Oregon -  The northern ringed crayfish, an aquatic invasive species, has been discovered in the Umpqua River system in southwest Oregon. Native to the Mississippi River, the ringed crayfish was first documented in Oregon’s Rogue River in the early 1960s. Read More Michigan - The Tourism Improving Michigan's Economy (TIME) Alliance unveiled radio ads and a special website designed to muster public and industry support to keep Asian Carp out of Michigan waterways.  Read More New York - Is the time of the private boat launch on Lake George over? That question is being posed as local and state officials grapple with stemming the march of aquatic invasive species.  Read More California - A proposal to allow the use of aquatic pesticides at Lake Tahoe drew mixed reactions from the South Lake Tahoe City Council.  Read More Tropical Fish Hobbyists Encouraged to Avoid Invasive Species Fishchannel.com is a leading tropical fish site that is run by one of the major magazines. They recently had a series of three good articles that are aimed at teaching fish keepers about the invasive species threat. The pet trade is often highlighted as a potential source of new invasives and it is great to see a major media company joining in the education effort.  Read Part One - Read Part Two - Read Part Three Potpourri   A selection of stories not directly related to aquatic invasives.    Kudzu – the "plant that ate the South" – has finally met a pest that's just as voracious. Trouble is, the so-called "kudzu bug" is also fond of another East Asian transplant that we happen to like, and that is big money for American farmers - Soybeans. Read More     After more than 10 years of hunting and attempting to remove invasive populations of nutria throughout Maryland, one final push is being made to eradicate the species locally. Over the next few years, officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin traveling down the Wicomico River seeking out remaining nutria populations. Read More     A Michigan Department of Natural Resources director’s order listing sporting swine as an invasive species took effect on Oct. 8, making it illegal to possess the animals in Michigan. Read More