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Aquatic Invasive Species
Help us Keep it Maine: Protect our waters from aquatic invasive species
Maine has some of the country's most pristine and healthy waters. These waters provide high-quality habitat for fish and wildlife, and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. On our inland waters, anglers can fish for many species, including native brook trout, Arctic charr, landlocked salmon, and lake trout, just to name a few.
Unfortunately, Maine's waters and the fish wildlife, and recreation they support are under threat. Introductions of fish, plants, diseases, and other aquatic hitchhikers can, and have, displaced native natural communities.
What can be done?
Introductions of aquatic invasive species often changes our waters and the way we enjoy them forever. Once an aquatic invasive species becomes established, it is extremely difficult, or impossible, for it to be eradicated. Removal efforts are costly, often risky, and not always successful.
Preventing aquatic invasive species spread is key to protecting Maine's waters. It's our duty as those who enjoy Maine's waters to become informed, attentive, and account able for our potential role in the spread of invasive species and to take steps to protect Maine's natural resources and the recreation they support.
Do your part: Protect Maine Waters from Aquatic Invasive Species
1 CLEAN
- Clean off plants, animals, and mud from gear and equipment including boats, trailers, waders, footwear, ropes, anchors, bait traps, dip nets, downrigger cables, fishing lines, and field gear before leaving water access. Maine law prohibits transporting any parts of aquatic plants on the outside of a vehicle, boat, trailer, personal watercraft, or other equipment on a public road.
- Scrub off any visible material on footwear with a stiff brush.
- Dispose of debris in a trash reciprocal or a responsible location away from the water.
2 DRAIN
- Maine law requires that prior to entering a water body and when preparing to leave launch sites, boaters must remove or open any devices designed for routine removal/opening (for example, hull drain plugs, bailers, live wells, ballast tanks) to encourage draining of areas containing water (excluding live bait containers). This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state.
- Boats should NOT be drained on the boat launch ramp. This prevents moving aquatic invasive species to new areas within a waterbody which can worsen the infestation. Instead, move your boat away from the ramp and shoreline to a location where drained water cannot flow back into the lake, river, or pond.
3 DRY
- Dry completely before reuse. Allowing watercraft and all gear time to dry thoroughly is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Other Ways to Help
- Under Maine law, you must immediately kill any fish that you decide to keep. Only legal baitfish and rainbow smelt can be transported alive.
- Make sure you are using legal baitfis species from Maine waters. See the Baitfish Information section for a quick guide to identifying legal and illegal species.
- Don't dump your bait! Properly dispose of unused baitfish on land or in the trash. It is illegal to dispose of live bait fish or smelt into inland waters of the State. Dispose of unused worms in the trash, not in the water or on land.
- Never introduce any fish, including baitfish and smelt, or fish eggs, into any inland water, including private, small, artificially constructed ponds, without a permit. An MDIFW Private Pond Stocking Permit is required to introduce live fish into private ponds. Permits are evaluated for potential impact to the surrounding area even if chances of escapement are low, and fish sources must be pre-approved and licensed private hatcheries.
- If you see or suspect someone is moving live fish, contact the Maine Warden Service immediately at 1-800-ALERT-US or report the offense at MaineOGT.org.
- Consider using non-felt soled boots to further reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species. If you do use felt soled boots, thoroughly dry the boots and/or soak in a disinfecting solution before moving to another body of water..
For more information on invasive aquatic plants, please visit: maine.gov/dep/water/invasives.