The approaching walleye fishing season comes with a reminder from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to always follow state laws to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Most anglers and boaters in Minnesota take the clean, drain, dispose steps for invasive species prevention every time they leave a lake or river.
“We’re grateful for the partnerships with nonprofits, local governments, researchers, and lake associations, and to the individuals who take AIS prevention so seriously in Minnesota,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “Minnesotans taking collective responsibility to keep our lakes clean and healthy has made our state a national leader in AIS prevention. That’s something we can all be enormously proud of.”
DNR Invasive Species Program Supervisor Kelly Pennington said people need to take prevention steps whether an enforcement officer or watercraft inspector is present or not.
“All anglers and boaters in Minnesota are required to take three simple steps: clean, drain, dispose,” Pennington said. “It’s not only the best way to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, but it’s also the law in Minnesota.”
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
- Clean watercraft, trailers and gear to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
- Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
- Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
- Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
- Dry all docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one water body to another.
These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:
- Decontaminate watercraft, trailers and gear – find free stations on the courtesy decontamination webpage of the DNR website.
- Spray watercraft, trailers and gear with high-pressure water or rinse with water.
- Dry watercraft, trailers and gear for at least five days before using in another water body.
The DNR appreciates the efforts and collaboration of everyone engaged in aquatic invasive species prevention and management, including Wildlife Forever, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee, the University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, lake service providers and other outdoor recreation businesses, lake associations, recreation and hobbyist groups, and Tribal governments.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have found an invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.
More information is available on the aquatic invasive species webpage of the DNR website.