Aquatic Invasive Species
Help us Keep it Maine : Protect our waters from aquatic invasive species
Learn more at mefishwildlife . com / cdd
Maine has some of the country ’ s most pristine and healthy waters , which support high-quality habitat for fish and wildlife as well as endless opportunities for outdoor recreation . On our inland waters , anglers can fish for native brook trout , Arctic charr , landlocked salmon , and lake trout , just to name a few .
Unfortunately , Maine waters , as well as the fish , wildlife , and recreation they support , are threatened each year by introductions of fish , plants , diseases , and other aquatic hitchhikers that compete with and displace native natural communities .
WHAT CAN BE DONE ? Once an invasive aquatic species has established in a body of water , it is extremely difficult for it to be eradicated . These efforts are costly , often risky , and not always successful and introductions have the potential to change our natural places and the way we enjoy them forever .
Therefore , prevention is key . So much of the spread comes from people simply enjoying the great outdoors . It ’ s our duty as those who enjoy using Maine ’ s waters to become informed , attentive , and accountable for our potential role in the spread of invasive species and to take steps to protect Maine ’ s waters .
DO YOUR PART : PROTECT MAINE WATERS FROM INVASIVE AQUATIC SPECIES
1 CLEAN
• Clean off plants , animals , and mud from gear and equipment including waders , footwear , ropes , anchors , bait traps , dip nets , downrigger cables , fishing lines , and field gear before leaving water access .
• Scrub off any visible material on footwear with a stiff brush .
• Dispose of debris in a trash reciprocal or a responsible location away from the water .
2 DRAIN
• Drain water from the watercraft prior to entering a waterbody and when preparing to leave a launch site .
• Maine law requires that prior to entering a water body and when preparing to leave launch sites , boaters must remove or open any devices designed for routine removal / opening ( for example , hull drain plugs , bailers , live wells , ballast tanks ) to encourage draining of areas containing water ( excluding live bait containers ). This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state .
• Boats should NOT be drained on the boat launch ramp . Since the transfer of aquatic invasive species to new areas within a water body can worsen the infestation , especially in high traffic launch areas , the preferred practice is to prevent direct draining back into the water body even when leaving the water body .
INVASIVE AQUATIC SPECIES
3 DRY
• Dry completely before reuse . Under Maine law , you must immediately kill any fish that you decide to keep , and never transport any live fish ( other than legal baitfish or rainbow smelt ).
Never introduce fish or fish eggs into any inland water , including private , small , artificially constructed ponds , without a permit . MDIFW does issue permits to allow for safe and appropriate private pond stocking . Applicants must show that the stocking will not create adverse risks to native species , and that fish will come from pre-approved and licensed private hatcheries .
Make sure you are using legal baitfish species . See the Baitfish Information section for a quick guide to identifying legal and illegal species .
Don ’ t dump your bait ! Properly dispose of unused baitfish on land or in the trash . Never release any live baitfish into a water body . Dispose of unused worms in the trash , not in the water or on land .
Consider using non-felt soled boots to further reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species . If you do use felt soled boots , thoroughly dry the boots and / or soak in a disinfecting solution before moving to another body of water .
If you see or suspect someone is moving live fish , contact the Maine Warden Service immediately at 1-800-ALERT-US or report the offense at MaineOGT . org .
For more information on invasive aquatic plants , please visit : maine . gov / dep / water / invasives . ■
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Baitfish and Smelt Information
The term “ baitfish ” is defined in Maine Law and means only those species in the following list :
• Lake chub , ( Couesius plumbeus )
• Eastern silvery minnow , ( Hybognathus regius )
• Golden shiner , ( Notemigonus crysoleucas )
• Common shiner , ( Luxilus cornutus )
• Northern redbelly dace , ( Phoxinus eos )
• Finescale dace , ( Phoxinus neogaeus )
• Fathead minnow , ( Pimephales promelas )
• Blacknose dace , ( Rhinichthys atratulus )
• Creek chub , ( Semotilus atromaculatus )
• Fallfish , ( Semotilus corporalis )
• Pearl dace , ( Margariscus margarita )
• Banded killifish , ( Fundulus diaphanus )
• Mummichog , ( Fundulus heteroclitus )
• Longnose sucker , ( Catostomus catostomus )
• White sucker , ( Catostomus commersoni )
• American eel , ( Anquilla rostrata )
The term “ baitfish ” when used alone , includes only the species defined in law (§ 10001-6 ) and listed above .
Rainbow smelt ( Osmerus mordax ) are not a “ baitfish ” ( as defined ) and specific harvest
BAITFISH AND SMELT INFORMATION
restrictions , bag limits , and water specific goals and objectives are applied to this species .
LEGAL FISH THAT MAY BE USED AS BAIT ( LIVE OR DEAD ) Baitfish ( as defined ) and rainbow smelt are the only fish species that may be used as bait ( live or dead ) for fishing in Maine ’ s inland waters . Note : Not all waters permit the use of live fish as bait ( or dead fish as bait ) – please review General Fishing Laws and Special Fishing Laws .
2024 STATE OF MAINE LAWS & RULES FISHING