The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is asking anglers to watch for invasive species while on the water. It says invasive species can hitch a ride on a boat, trailer, fishing equipment and very often within bait buckets. That could mean fish, plants, or bacteria. There are many small, individual, lakes and rivers in northern Ontario and anglers may introduce something to a habitat without even knowing.

The Ministry says to avoid that, don’t release bait into a body of water, drain the water from your boat before setting out and removing anything visible on your boat such as algae or plants.