Aquatic Invasives

Courtesy Boat Inspections are the first line of defense against invasive aquatic species (IAS) entering waterbodies of Maine.

The CBI program has been highly successful, with an average of 80,000 boats in Maine inspected per year since inception in 2001.

IAS include fish, wildlife, or plants that are not native to Maine and pose a threat of quickly spreading and dominating the ecosystem. In Maine to name just a few that have already arrived : variable-leaf milfoil, Northern pike, black crappie, rusty crayfish, brittle naiad, and banded mystery snails.

Maine is very concerned about the Zebra Mussel in nearby New Brunswick and Quebec catching a ride to Maine waters. Avid filter feeders, they deplete plankton which native fish and native mussels need. Zebra Mussels can foul boats and intake pipes such as the Kennebec Water District system in China Lake.

The Courtesy Boat Inspection program, developed through the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, is the first defense against invaders. You can view a video of a typical Courtesy Boat Inspection below. These voluntary inspections are proven to reduce the spread of invasive aquatic species by boats, trailers, and associated equipment to our lakes. CBIs offer boaters assistance in inspecting both motorized, non-motorized, trailer, and other equipment when entering and exiting the water.

What do CBIs do? As boaters launch and remove their boats from the water, CBIs:

• Discuss with boaters how invasive aquatic plants spread

• Show boaters how to inspect boats and equipment for plant fragments

• Urge boaters to inspect before and after every launch

• Distribute information about invasive plants

• Articulate Maine law regarding the transport of these plants.

Curious what a courtesy boat inspection is like? Check out the video below to see a model inspection following COVID-19 guidelines.