Most people are familiar with invasive species — from feral hogs to lionfish — because humans have been transporting and fighting these creatures and plants for centuries. The list of aquatic invasive species is long, and includes Eurasian watermilfoil, water hyacinth, spiny water flea, and quagga and zebra mussels. Aquatic invasive species vary from microscopic organisms to larger fish, and can live in a variety of environmental habitats, including residual water or mud.
Why do we care? Because aquatic invasive species impede boaters. They require inspection and decontamination that causes delays, and they can prevent water access. These organisms can cause direct damage to boats and components. And, most important, an ecosystem choked with invasive plants or flying carp makes boating or fishing much less desirable.
Back around 2013, the American Boat & Yacht Council set its sights on aquatic invasive species as the marine industry watched zebra mussels — potentially discharged from a European cargo ship into the Great Lakes via contaminated ballast water — work their way through the Midwest. Native to Eastern Europe and Western Asia, these mussels quickly took hold, all the way to San Justo Reservoir in California. The migration was a wake-up call for anyone making a living on and near the water.
Containing the zebra mussels was a challenge, and folks in the western United States wanted to avoid some of the complications the Great Lakes were experiencing. The ABYC started planning its first Aquatic Invasive Species Conference in 2015, with a follow-up in 2018, to figure out how the recreational boating industry could help reduce the spread.
ABYC technical director Brian Goodwin was a coordinator of the conference, which brought together representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state agencies, Sea Grant organizations, the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the boating industry. “It was a good general discussion,” Goodwin says, “but the biggest outcome was the need to educate the industry.”
While the spread of aquatic invasive species was, and still might be, viewed as a regional issue, it in fact has a national impact.
“Each state has its own tack, but it has to become a more consistent message,” Goodwin says. Within that messaging? “This could impact your customers.”
The ABYC — as part of its mission since 2015, and with the initial publication of the Technical Information Report: T-32, Design and Construction in Consideration of Aquatic Invasive Species in 2018 — has talked with industry leaders about the need to think about aquatic invasive species when designing products. These species spread through water within the hull or in the water systems; via a trailer or trapped between the boat and the trailer bunks; attached to the hull or components of the boat; or within the mechanical systems.
“We need to make sure boats and accessories follow the mantra ‘Clean, Drain, Dry,’ and make sure there’s a decontamination process if needed,” Goodwin says.
Of late, the industry is seeing engine-flush ports more consistently applied to products, and pontoons built with closed strakes and keels alongside boarding ladders that clear the water completely. Landside, manufacturers such as Clean Wake in Utah are designing ramps to drive a boat and trailer into a tank of hot water to flush the full enchilada. This one-shot decontamination is faster and results in a better boater experience.
Wakeboat designers and builders continue to improve their designs, as well. The Water Sports Industry Association has a Boat Decontamination Database so those who handle watercraft decontaminations are better able to understand the various systems on wakeboats, according to Adam Doll, watercraft inspection coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Thus far, 12 wake-boat manufacturers — Axis, Centurion, Cobalt, Heyday, Malibu, MasterCraft, Moomba, Nautique, Supra, Supreme, Tige and Yamaha — have provided schematics that detail intake and drain systems. The association plans to continue adding older and newer models.
“I’m hopeful this tool will continue to grow, and will be useful for decontamination staff across the country,” Doll says. “Wake boats are very challenging to decontaminate, and having access to manufacturer-provided diagrams is very helpful.”
To learn more about aquatic invasive species, visit abycinc.org/ais.
Guide for Decontamination
The ABYC Technical Information Report: T-32, Design and Construction in Consideration of Aquatic Invasive Species, was published in 2018 and revised in 2021 to provide guidance on the design and construction of boats, trailers, engines, components and accessories in order to minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species. The report is critical to helping curb the issue by using best practices and recommendations for manufacturers, as well as by accessing information on how to educate boaters and customers.
Sarah Devlin is accreditation director for the American Boat & Yacht Council.
This article was originally published in the July 2023 issue.
