Aquatic Invasive Species

Water-related Equipment

What is Water-related Equipment?

Water-related equipment is any equipment that comes into contact with water from a water body. It can include:

watercraft trailers
docks
fishing gear (e.g., lures, net, bait bucket, auger)
gill nets
PFDs
scuba gear
anchors
paddles
ropes
hunting decoys
scientific equipment (e.g., Ponar grab, Kemmerer sampler)
construction equipment
beach toys (e.g., sand pail)
floatable devices and inflatables (e.g., floating tubes, mattress and towables (i.e., boats and riding toys), rafts and water mats)

Using Water-related Equipment in a Water Body in Manitoba

To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), all surface water-users must take the following steps before moving water-related equipment from one water body into another water body. These requirements are in effect year-round.

Placing Water-related Equipment into a Water Body

Before placing water-related equipment into a water body, you need to:

ensure the water-related equipment is free of aquatic invasive species, aquatic plants (e.g., weeds and algae) and mud.
drain any residual water. This includes water in bait buckets. If there is water present, it must be drained away from the water body or storm drain.
dry completely or decontaminate the water-related equipment.

Note: if returning to the same water body on the next trip, drying completely or decontaminating is not required.

Removing Water-related Equipment from a Water Body

Whenever water-related equipment is removed from a water body in Manitoba, and prior to leaving the shore, you need to:

ensure the water-related equipment is free of aquatic invasive species and aquatic plants (e.g., weeds and algae).
drain all water. This includes water in bait buckets.

Removing Water-related Equipment from an AIS Control Zone

When exiting an AIS Control Zone with water-related equipment, in addition to the removing steps above, you need to:

obtain a Transportation Authorization if you cannot remove the AIS before leaving the shore.
dispose of bait before leaving the shore.
decontaminate the water-related equipment before placing it into another water body.

Note: if returning to the same water body on the next trip, decontamination is not required.

The Open-water Season Checklist is a step-by-step resource that can help you comply with the Manitoba government’s AIS Regulation.

Removing Water-related Equipment from a Water Body in the Winter (Ice-covered) Months

In winter, aquatic invasive species can be spread by water-related equipment being moved from one water body to another. The requirements for water-related equipment apply year round.

The Winter (Ice-covered) Season Checklist is a step-by-step resource that can help you comply with the Manitoba government’s AIS Regulation.

Approved Decontamination Methods for Water-related Equipment

After exiting a water body with water-related equipment and at the shore, you need to:

remove AIS and aquatic plants (e.g., weeds and algae) from the water-related equipment.
drain all water.

In addition to the exiting steps above, water-related equipment must be decontaminated if it:

cannot be dried completely before it is placed into another water body, or
was last used in an AIS Control Zone and before it is placed into another water body.

To decontaminate, you can:

take the water-related equipment to a watercraft inspection station.
use one of the approved methods listed in Schedule C: Approved Decontamination Methods for Water-related Equipmentof the Manitoba government’s Aquatic Invasive Species Regulation as indicated in Table 1 below.

Note: when choosing a method outlined in Schedule C (Table 1), in most cases the water-related equipment must also be dried before it is placed into another water body.

Approved Decontamination Methods for Water-related Equipment (Schedule C)

Table 1. Water-related equipment may be decontaminated using the treatment indicated in column 1 of the table below following the procedures set out in columns 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Column 1 Product	Column 2 Dilution	Column 3 Method	Column 4 Duration	Column 5 Next Steps
Bleach 5.25% (household sodium hypochloride)	100 ml bleach to 1 L of water	Completely submerge and ensure the item is in direct contact with solution.	30 minutes	Rinse thoroughly with potable water and wipe down with a cloth.
Vinegar (white) (5% acetic acid)	no dilution required	Completely submerge and ensure the item is in direct contact with solution.	60 minutes	Rinse thoroughly with potable water and wipe down with a cloth
7% Hydrogen Peroxide	64 ml to 1 L of water	Completely submerge and ensure the item is in direct contact with solution.	60 minutes	Rinse thoroughly with potable water and wipe down with a cloth.
Table Salt (NaCl)	10 ml of salt to 1 L of water	Completely submerge and ensure the item is in direct contact with solution.	24 hours	Rinse thoroughly with potable water and wipe down with a cloth.
Hot water (>60°C)	N/A	Completely submerge and ensure the item is in direct contact with water at all times.	10 minutes	Wipe down with a cloth.
Hot water (>60°C)	N/A	Clean with hot water (minimum 60 C) that is discharged at a pressure between 40 to 60 psi. The water must be sprayed no more than 10 cm from the surface being cleaned.	All surfaces being cleaned must receive a minimum of 10 seconds of exposure to the hot water.	Wipe down with a cloth.
Temperatures below -10°C	N/A	Expose item to required minimum temperature.	Three consecutive days	None

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