Golden Shiners at Center of Bait Debate in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A live bait favored by winter walleye anglers are at the
center of an escalating policy dispute between bait shops blocked from importing
the minnows and fisheries managers upholding the ban as a critical defense
against fish disease and invasive carp.

The Department of Natural Resources has prevailed in arguments over the ban, which prevents Minnesota bait dealers from buying golden shiners from other states, including
the bountiful fish farm industry of Arkansas.

Republican state Sen. Carrie Ruud of Breezy Point says she is convinced
Arkansas minnows are ``bio-secure'' and worthy of Minnesota bait buckets.

The department's commissioner, Tom Landwehr, including the minnow controversy
in a letter to Senate leaders last week as one of several ``problematic policy
items'' that deserves its own debate and shouldn't be part of the state's budget
bill.