Laws to Help Stop the Spread of Exotics

Harmful exotic species are often spread unknowingly. As an angler or boater, you should always take precautions to help stop the spread of exotic species. The following laws are in place to prevent unauthorized introductions.

Possessing Live Fish

It is illegal to possess live invasive fish including: round goby, tubenose goby, grass carp, bighead carp, black carp, silver carp, rudd, ruffe and any species of snakehead.

If any of these species are caught they should be destroyed and not released back into any waters.

Moving Live Fish

Many new populations of fish have been established through unauthorized stocking. This practice is illegal and can cause great harm to existing fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.

A licence is required for all fish (including live spawn) transfers and stocking into Ontario waters, and a licence is required to ship or transport live fish, other than baitfish, taken from Ontario waters.

Also, take care when cleaning smelt. Do not rinse equipment or dump entrails into a lake or river. Fertilized smelt eggs can easily invade new waters.

Aquarium Fish

Never release or flush pets, plants or water from aquaria, backyard ponds or water gardens. It is illegal and can harm the environment. If you have an unwanted aquarium pet, you can return it to a local pet store, donate it to a school or contact the Fish Rescue Program at 1-800-563-7711.

Crayfish

 
Crayfish can only be used for bait in the waterbody in which they were caught and they cannot be transported overland.

Round Goby

The round goby is frequently caught by anglers. It is just one of the many serious threats to North American waters. Since its discovery in the St. Clair River in 1990, this bottom-dwelling fish has rapidly spread to many areas of the Great Lakes and inland waters.

The round goby can displace native fish from optimal habitat, eat their eggs and young and spawn multiple times a season. Anglers should know how to identify the round goby - these aggressive fish are easily caught by hook and line.

What you can do 

*  Report new sightings.

*  If you catch a round goby it should be destroyed and not released back into any waters! Never use gobies as bait – remember it is against the law to use them as bait or have live gobies in your possession. 

*  Always dispose of your unwanted bait and the contents of your bait bucket or bait bucket water on land or in the trash – it is illegal to dump the contents of a bait bucket into any waters or within 30 m of any waters.


For more information or to report a sighting, call the Invading Species Hotline 1-800-563-7711 or visit www.invadingspecies.com.  This hotline is a partnership between the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

By spreading the word and taking action against exotic species you will help conserve Ontario's healthy fisheries!