MDC reminds citizens to dispose of fish waste responsibly

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Published Date
04/22/2019
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PROCTOR, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds citizens to dispose of waste responsibly when cleaning fish. Several nuisance reports at Wigwam School Access at the Lake of the Ozarks have prompted MDC to offer a larger dumpster for collection of waste. Any additional fish-cleaning waste should be deposited in deep water, where it cannot end up washing on to the bank or concentrated in one area.

In addition to using trash receptacles, disposing of fish-cleaning waste back into the water is allowed. Fish-cleaning waste should not be allowed to pile up near the water’s edge. It should be discarded into deeper water or in the flowing part of the stream. It is important to remember that the Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits the transportation of extricated paddlefish eggs.

Most fish have daily possession limits and throwing away the entire fish is wasteful and a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Entire fish cannot be tossed on the bank or dumped back into the water. Anyone fishing in Missouri waters should plan to have a use for all the fish they keep.

Maintaining a public fishery for everyone to use and enjoy requires participation from all citizens to be responsible and help keep areas clean for everyone. Anyone fishing in Missouri waters should be mindful of regulations and impacts to others.