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Bait, Bait Use and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Bait, Bait Use and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
Provincial AIS Bait Requirements
Bait Use in Manitoba
Bait use presents a risk for introducing new invasive species and diseases into Manitoba.
- Purchase and use locally sourced bait.
- Never move fish or fish parts from one water body to another.
- Possession of crayfish (also referred to as crawdads, crawfish, little lobsters) is prohibited, thus, cannot be used as bait.
- Do not purchase frozen fish or invertebrates from grocery stores for use as bait. In some cases, harmful diseases not killed by the freezing process could spread to native species.
- Refer to:
- the Manitoba Anglers' Guide for species that can be used as bait.
- Schedule A of the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulation for the list of prohibited fish and invertebrate that cannot be possessed in Manitoba.
Bait and Aquatic Invasive Species Control Zones
Live bait
- When using bait in an AIS Control Zone, only bring the live bait you are going to use on that water body. Any bait you take with you to an AIS Control Zone MUST be discarded BEFORE you leave the shore IF it:
- is live
- has been handled (i.e., hooked) or
- has come into contact with surface water from the control zone
- Anglers cannot kill live bait in an AIS Control Zone and then remove it for any future use.
- These live-bait disposal requirements applies even if you have a valid 3-day live bait fish-transfer-and-use receipt.
- Water from bait containers must be drained before leaving the shore.
Dead bait
- Commercially supplied dead bait used on an AIS Control Zone can be retained by anglers for future use, IF it has NOT:
- been handled (i.e., hooked) or
- come into contact with surface water
Revised: February 6, 2020; January 19, 2021
Bait Harvesters and Bait Dealers:
Live bait harvested in Manitoba must be placed, transported, stored and sold in potable water or groundwater.
Federal Bait Import Requirements
Live bait fish and invertebrates (e.g., worms and leeches) cannot be imported into Canada without proper permitting from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This includes personal use such as recreational angling.
- Refer to: Protecting Canada from Invasive Species
AIS Import Requirements
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) provides requirements for travellers, such as boaters and anglers, to prevent the importation of aquatic invasive species into Canada.
Invasive Carps
Invasive carps, mean silver, grass, black and bighead carps specifically. They pose a serious concern for Canada and Manitoba's aquatic ecosystems and fisheries. If introduced, invasive carps can drastically change the food chain and displace native species.
Silver carp can grow to 40kg consuming upwards of 40% of their body weight per day. Their leaping ability pose a physical hazard to water users in areas where the species is present.
As members of the minnow family, small-sized juvenile invasive carps resemble common native baitfish. Purchasing and using locally sourced bait can prevent the inadvertent introduction of invasive carps by bait bucket transfer.
- Refer to: Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Invasive Carps page.