Raising awareness of aquatic invasive species among recreational boaters

2021-05-20

Josianne Vignola

Summer 2021 is right around the corner, and recreational boaters in Quebec will soon be out on the water. Over the next few weeks, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) fishery officers will be visiting various marinas in Quebec to raise public awareness of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Aquatic invasive species are species that have been introduced into an environment where they would not normally be found. They can grow rapidly, displace other species and even cause changes to habitats not intended for them. After habitat loss, AIS represent the second largest threat to the diversity of the planet’s ecosystems. They also negatively impact recreational activities such as fishing, swimming and recreational boating.

In summer 2020, DFO fishery officers and wildlife protection officers from the Quebec Department of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) worked together to conduct outreach activities. In total, the DFO and MFFP officers met with close to 300 boaters. At each encounter, the officers took the opportunity to ask people about their boating activities and their knowledge of AIS.

Clean, drain, dry

AIS can attach to recreational boats and water-related equipment. Pleasure craft owners play an important role in preventing the spread of AIS. For example, it is recommended to:

clean equipment with water, ideally using a hot water pressure washer
drain water from the motor, bilge and wells on land, well away from the water;
ensure that the equipment is completely dry before entering another body of water.

Summer 2021

See our schedule* to find out when fishery officers will be in your area this summer: