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Hmm, good argument, I never thought of this. Thanks.

Jayhad: Stop hiking and hunting in the back country where fish populations are at risk. No. The justification for this statement is based on the all encompassing guidelines released under GOA directives. All government agencies are expected to sanitize equipment when moving across watersheds. Contractors are to my knowledge expected to do the same when working in or close to watersheds. And anglers and watercraft users are expected to do the same. Hikers and hunters cross water bodies on their travels in the back country, therefore why should they be exempt from following the same guidelines. If it was believed that restricting access to the back country would reduce to probability of invasive species and disease, I do not see any governments taking punitive action against back country users. The end result is that whatever policies are put in place to "save our fisheries" very few if any will contribute significantly in preventing an increase in their presence..

Don: Your focus here is far too limited. Fish populations world wide are diminishing at the same rate as angling pressure goes up. It does not matter if the pressure comes from commercial or recreational anglers, the objective of just about everyone is to catch more fish. Its not to protect endangered fish populations, reduce (not eliminate) invasive species and diseases. And god help us, never suggest that anglers have any sort of impact on fish stocks. I do not see and government regardless of their political stripes taking on some of the bigger issues to eliminate transfer of invasive disease and species across watersheds: Will they stop movement of cattle across watersheds. No. Stop off road vehicle use. Especially oil and logging service vehicles. No. Stop hiking and hunting in the back country where fish populations are at risk. No. So whats left? The recreational angler who decides to take it upon him- or herself and aid in the protection of our fisheries by themselves. This is a loosing battle! Whirling Disease is here to stay. Dog sniffers at the border will not catch all Zebra Mussel transfer to out watersheds. Possibly the only option is to keep replenishing wild trout population where angling pressure is high.

Introduction of political orientation obscures a more important point. The issue is not who is right, it is about what is right.