Released July 26, 2022
Remember to stop by all provincial boat inspection stations to help prevent the introduction of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) into Saskatchewan waters. When traveling across provincial and international borders, look for inspection stations along highways and near bodies of water.
Boat inspection is mandatory in Saskatchewan – even if you are just passing through. We work with neighboring provinces, states and the Canada Border Services Agency to coordinate inspection efforts. To date, Saskatchewan has been successful in preventing the introduction and establishment of AIS.
Remember: inspection is required for more than boats! A watercraft is anything you ride, including paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and jet skis.
Before returning home from out of province, visiting, or traveling between provincial waters, be sure to follow the guidelines for cleaning, draining, and drying your watercraft and all related equipment. To ensure that your boat is free of invasive species and that the inspection process goes quickly, remember to:
- Clean: Remove plants, animals and mud from trailers, hulls, motors and fishing gear using high pressure hot tap water.
- Draining: Drain all water (including bilges and live wells) and rinse with hot tap water.
- Drying: Allow all gear to dry completely, ideally five days before travelling, while leaving compartments open to dry.
- Pull out the plug: Leave the plugs in place during transport and tilt the watercraft when stored to allow the bilge to drain and dry out. It is mandatory to remove all watercraft drain plugs during transport.
If you buy a boat out of province in the fall and the inspection stations are closed, you will need to dry-dock the boat for the winter. Aquatic invasive species are unlikely to survive the cold Saskatchewan.
Let’s keep Saskatchewan AIS free. Get your boat inspected and protect Saskatchewan waters!
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For more information contact:
Val Nicholson
Environment
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-953-2459
Email: [email protected]
