Aquatic Invasive Species

WINTER (ICE-COVERED) SEASON CHECKLIST to help stop the introduction and spread of AIS in the closed-water season.

Aquatic invasive species(AIS) threaten Manitoba’s waters. Species such as zebra mussels can cause major negative economic, environmental and social impacts to water-users such as boaters, fishers, recreational water-users and industry.

In Manitoba,

you must be free of AIS
set fines for AIS offences are in effect year-round
if uncertain you have been in an aquatic invasive species invaded water body, it may be in your best interest to decontaminate everything before placing items into a water body in the province.

BEFORE ACCESSING A WATER BODY, you need to...

ensure water-related equipment are free of AIS, aquatic plants (e.g., weeds), mud, and water.
drain any residual water on land away from the water body. This includes water in bait containers.
ensure all water-related equipment (e.g., fishing gear, auger, ice scooper) that were used last in another water body than the one your are entering are dried completely (preferably indoors) OR decontaminated (e.g., let all items freeze outside for three days at -10°C or colder) before placing them into the water body.

BEFORE LEAVING A WATER BODY and at the shore, you need to...

remove AIS and aquatic plants (e.g., weeds) from water-related equipment.
drain all water. This includes water in bait containers. Note: water in its frozen form does not need to be removed before leaving the shore.

WHEN LEAVING AN AIS CONTROL ZONE in addition to the exiting steps above, you need to...

dispose of all bait before leaving the shore. For more information on bait use and AIS, click here.
decontaminate all water-related equipment (e.g., fishing gear, auger, ice scooper) before placing them into another water body. Note: if returning to the same water body on the next trip, decontamination is not required.

To decontaminate you can:

freeze all water-related equipment (e.g., outside) for at least three days at -10°C or colder.

follow the other Approved Decontamination Methods for Water-related Equipment (Schedule C) in the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulation.

ensure all water-related equipment are dried completely before placing them into another water body.

SET FINES FOR AIS OFFENCES ARE IN EFFECT YEAR-ROUND AND RANGE FROM $174 TO $2,542 (FOR INDIVIDUALS).

PROTECT MANITOBA’S WATER BODIES FROM AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS). BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND DO YOUR PART - EVERY TIME!

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