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Snyder, F.L., 1997. Commercial Fish and Baitfish Shipments as Potential Vectors of Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus), Ohio Sea Grant Extension Program Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biology and Management of Ruffe, March 21-23, 1997 Commercial Fish and Baitfish Shipments as Potential Vectors of Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)ABSTRACT. Recent incidents of ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) range expansion in the Great Lakes have been attributed to ballast water exchange or natural migration. Concern is growing among fishery managers and researchers that shipments of live, wild-caught fish may provide another pathway for ruffe to expand their range further throughout the Great Lakes and into other unconnected watersheds. Live bait species are routinely captured from Great Lakes waters and shipped to dealers on connected waterways as well as in inland regions. Commercial fish species such as white bass (Morone chrysops) and freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) are known to be captured from Lake Erie and transported outside the watershed for stocking into lakes. Similar fish transportation activities may be occurring in other parts of the Great Lakes. Water quality in these shipments is carefully regulated to promote fish survival, raising the probability that any ruffe contaminating a shipment also would survive. Certain states already impose regulations on the capture, shipment and use of live bait to minimize the spread of exotic species. Without assurance from live fish transporters that shipments are effectively screened for unintended species, further regulations may be imminent. It is incumbent upon wild fish harvesters and transporters to cooperate with managers and researchers in developing procedures to minimize the risk of spreading ruffe and other exotic species via these shipments. Contact: Fred L. Snyder, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Program, Camp Perry,
Bldg. 3, Rm. 12, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452 or seagrnw@agvax2.ag.ohiostate.edu |
