Date: 3/14/11
Contact: Douglas Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127 x 3500

GO BOATING, GO FISHING, GO CLEAN

The ice is coming off central Nevada waters and that means it's time to load up your gear and go fishing! But when you do make that long awaited trip please don't take any mussels along with you, or any other aquatic nuisance species for that matter.

That request comes to anglers and other recreational boaters from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), which is asking outdoor enthusiasts to clean, drain and dry their boats, trailers, canoes, waders, float tubes, and other related gear before leaving one body of water and heading to another regardless of one's starting point or their final destination. These simple steps, the agency said, will help prevent the spread of quagga mussels and other aquatic nuisance species (ANS) between waterways.

"An aquatic nuisance species is any non-native species of aquatic plants or animals that has a negative effect on a native species or on the ecological stability of a waterway," said Jon Sjoberg, supervising fisheries biologist for NDOW. "Those negative effects can include a decrease in the numbers of sportfish and a loss of recreational fishing opportunity."

Quagga mussels, which have had a significant impact on boaters and anglers since their discovery in January 2007 in the lower Colorado River System, are just one example of an ANS. Others include zebra mussels, a cousin to the Quagga, and New Zealand mudsnails. These small animals are moved from one waterway to another primarily through human-related activities. This is especially true with quagga mussels because they have the ability to attach to hard surfaces such as boats, trailers, vehicles and even fishing equipment. Though they are an aquatic species, quagga mussels can survive out of the water for several days.

Clean the hull or trailer and remove all plant and animal materials. Drain any water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit as well as the boat trailer. And dry the vessel before moving elsewhere. If your boat has been in a body of water where quagga mussels, zebra mussels or New Zealand mudsnails have been found, keep the vessel dry and out of water for at least five days.

More information on aquatic nuisance species in Nevada can be found online at www.ndow.org/boat/exotic/.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and
conservation fees and a Federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.