Ecology of Freshwater Baitfish Use in Canada and the United States

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Abstract
The baitfish industry in Canada and the United States is conservatively estimated to be worth US $1 billion annually. In addition to the economic impacts, this industry also has ecological impacts. We review the potential impacts of the use of baitfish on the harvested (donor) ecosystem as well as the ecosystem in which the baitfish are used (recipient). We summarized the current, provincial, territorial, and state baitfish regulations for both countries and compared our results to the findings of a similar study in 1956. Although the number of regulations in both countries has increased, clearly transport and release of baitfish is still poorly controlled. We undertook a more detailed examination of the US $29 million baitfish industry in Ontario. The listing of 15 baitfish species as vulnerable or threatened and the presence of disjunct populations as a result of bait-bucket transfer of 12 species indicates Ontario baitfish regulations/enforcement have not adequately protected donor and recipie...

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