Boat & Gear Cleaning Requirements
Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are plants and animals that have been introduced into new ecosystems and have environmental, recreational, economic or health impacts. These invaders may damage equipment and compete with native species. Anglers and boaters may unknowingly introduce AIS into new waters.
It is unlawful to transport any plants, fish or other aquatic life from one body of water to another. It is unlawful to release unused bait into the waters you are fishing. Dispose of unused bait in a trash can.
Check
Inspect every inch of your boat, trailer and fishing gear before leaving any body of water. Remove and leave behind plants, mud and aquatic life.
Check Your Boat
- Anchor and line
- Live wells
- Motor lower unit
- Hull and bilge
- Trailer hitch, rollers, lights and axle
- Life jackets
- Swimming floats, water skis, wakeboards and tubes
Check Your Fishing Gear
- Shoes or boots
- Clothing
- Fishing vests
- Fishing rod, reel and line
- Hooks and lures
- Tackle boxes
Remove
- Visible plants
- Fish or other aquatic animals
- Mud and dirt
Do not transport any potential hitchhiker, even back to your home. Remove and leave them at the site you visited.
Drain
Drain water from all equipment before leaving the area you are visiting. Some species may live for months in water that has not been removed.
- Motors
- Jet drives
- Live wells
- Compartments
- Boat hulls
- Bilge
- Shoes, boots and waders
- Bait buckets
- Life jackets
- Swimming floats, water skis, wakeboards and tubes
- Kayaks (pull open plugs)
Clean
Many AIS are microscopic and can’t be seen. It’s important to clean your gear even if it doesn’t appear to have anything on it. Follow the cleaning instructions below after the water has been removed.
- Use hot (140° F) water to clean your equipment.
- Spray equipment with a high-pressure washer. If hot water is not available, a commercial hot water car wash also makes an ideal location to wash your boat, motor and trailer.
- Freezing gear for at least 6 hours will kill most AIS.
Dry
Dry everything before entering new waters. Allow equipment to dry to the touch, and then allow it to dry another 48 hours. Thick and dense material like life jackets and felt-soled wading gear will hold moisture longer, take longer to dry and can be more difficult to clean.
A Waterways Conservation Officer may order:
- The removal of aquatic plants or prohibited species from a watercraft, trailer or water-related equipment before transport or before immersing in Commonwealth waters.
- Confinement of the watercraft at a mooring, dock or other location until the related equipment is removed from the water.
- Removal of a watercraft from a Commonwealth water to remove prohibited AIS if the water has not previously been known to be infected with that species. Find lists of known waters of the Commonwealth with AIS in the United States Geological Survey's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
- A prohibition of a watercraft into a Commonwealth water when the watercraft has aquatic plants or prohibited AIS attached or when water has not been drained or the drain plug not removed.
- Decontamination of a watercraft, if possible, on site.
Stop Invasive Carp!
Bighead, Silver and Black Carp are invasive carp. It is unlawful to possess, introduce or import, transport, sell, purchase, offer for sale or barter these species in Pennsylvania. These species pose a significant threat to the biodiversity of native species and habitat, along with imposing safety risks to boaters.
Invasive carp had a devastating impact in the Mississippi River system and now pose this threat to the Great Lakes Basin. As AIS, these fish do not naturally occur in Pennsylvania waters and would only occur if transported and released.
These carp species are a threat due to their large size (some can grow to more than 100 pounds and 5 feet in length), reproductive success, habitat damage and large, year-round food consumption. In addition, Silver Carp, when startled, can jump up to 10 feet out of the water, striking boaters and causing severe injury.
For more information or to report sightings or catches of these fish species and other aquatic invasive species (AIS), visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.
Grass Carp are also known as invasive carp. Diploid Grass Carp are banned from stocking in Pennsylvania, but Triploid (sterile) Grass Carp are allowed to be stocked in lakes and ponds with a PFBC-approved permit.
You are Required to Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!
Tips for New Zealand Mudsnails:
- Freeze gear for a minimum of 6 hours.
- Soak gear in hot (>120 Fahrenheit) water for at least 5 minutes.
- Soak gear in a 1:1 solution of Formula 409 Degreaser Disinfectant and water. Other typical AIS disinfection methods and other 409 brand products are not effective in killing New Zealand Mudsnails.
