Department of Natural Resources fishing regulations are designed to enlist anglers and the bait industry as allies to slow the spread of fish diseases, particularly Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS). The regulations went into effect Thursday, June 28.

The key highlights of the new regulations are:

•The regulations only apply to species on the Prohibited Species List. The key baitfish species for anglers are spottail shiners, emerald shiners, bluntnose minnows, white suckers, and Pacific herring (frozen for cut bait). The key species for fish eggs (roe) are Chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout/steelhead.

•Bait includes live, dead, frozen, and part or cut bait, including fish eggs (roe).

•Anglers will get a receipt from the bait shop which will tell them where they can use the bait and if is certified VHS-free, which can be used anywhere in the state.

•Receipts are valid for 7 days.

•Uncertified bait from a bait shop or collected by anglers is restricted on where it can be used. Baitfish form VHS positive waters can only be used on VHS positive waters, VHS surveillance waters baitfish can be used in VHS surveillance or positive waters, and baitfish from VHS-free waters can be used anywhere in the state. The key for anglers is knowing the location of the Disease Management Areas, and that information will be available at the bait shops and on the DNR Web site.

•Bait and fish eggs can only be used on a hook if they are on the Prohibited Species List. The use of spawn sacks is acceptable. Anglers cannot release minnows when done fishing and must dispose of them when leaving the water. The release of many baitfish or large amounts of fish eggs that are potentially VHS-positive is an easy way to spread the virus, fisheries officials warned.

•When practicing catch and release fishing, you may only release a live fish back into water that the fish can freely swim into from the location it was caught. This applies to catch-and-immediate release and catch-and-delayed release (tournament) fishing. This will prevent the virus from being transported by live fish to new waters.

•All water must be emptied from live wells and bilges when leaving a body of water. This regulation applies to all boaters and will prevent the virus from being transported by infected water.

In addition, the key highlights for retail and wholesale minnow dealers are:

•There is a certification process that will allow dealers to provide disease-free bait for Michigan anglers. It is a two-stage process that includes both the holding facilities and the baitfish.

•It is not required that baitfish be certified. Certified baitfish can be used anywhere in the state and provides the most options for anglers. Uncertified bait is restricted to where it can be used.

•Both wholesale and retail minnow dealers must tell their customers on their receipts where the baitfish was taken, the lot or transaction code, and what disease management area it can be used.

•Receipts must be kept for one year.