What’s the problem? Montana’s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams constitute a multi-million dollar resource, which we all enjoy. Our sport fisheries are among the finest in the world. However, when people illegally introduce fish to these waters, they jeopardize those fisheries.

Illegal introductions cause serious problems. Fish like carp, yellow perch, suckers, shiners, sunfish, northern pike and certain other fish can severely affect a sport fishery. So, when someone moves live fish from one body of water to another, the future of their fishing is at stake.

Some introductions are planned management plants that benefit certain waters. But in some cases people have illegally introduced species by using live bait, dumping bait buckets, throwing out aquarium fish and even intentionally stocking rivers, lakes and ponds.

Moving live fish or aquatic invertebrates (insects) from one body of water to another is a crime. You can be arrested and fined for any such activity in the state of Montana.

HELP PREVENT ILLEGAL INTRODUCTIONS

At least 20 percent of the illegal fish introductions documented by FWP have occurred in the past ten years.   In total there are 426 unauthorized fish introductions in 251 waters across the state, involving 49 species of fish.


Illegally introduced aquatic species can:

·         harm native, wild and stocked fish populations;

·         spread disease;

·         impact water quality and aquatic habitat;

·         increase fishery management costs by requiring planting more fish

or even chemical rehabilitation to maintain or restore a fishery; and

·         diminish fishing opportunities in the state.

           
Protect the environment from illegal fish introductions and nuisance species by getting in the habit of taking common sense precautions:

 

·         don’t move live fish or aquatic insects from one water to another for any reason;

·         don’t release aquarium fish into streams, ponds or lakes;

·         don’t release live baitfish into streams, ponds or lakes.

 
When FWP identifies an illegal introduction it conducts an investigation, may prosecute the violation and will require restitution for the costs of removing the introduced species and re-establishing the original fishery.   If you witness such a crime, report it by calling TIP-MONT at 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668).