The primary way that aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as zebra mussels or spiny water fleas move from one lake to the next is by hitching a ride on a boat, trailer or other water related equipment. In 2012, as part of an overall effort to stop the spread of AIS, the Minnesota legislature passed a law requiring watercraft trailers to purchase and display a decal showing that the owner has taken an AIS training course.
If you trailer a boat or water-related equipment such as docks and lifts in Minnesota, you must take AIS training and purchase a trailer decal. The deadline to have a decal on boat trailers is July 2, 2015.
Online training will be available online at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website beginning January 1, 2015. Paper home-study training packets will also be available. It is hoped that this will give people time to complete the training before boating season.
The online training cost is $5. A paper home-study course fee is $11. After completing the course, you will receive a decal that must be displayed on your trailer. Both fees include mailing the trailer decal to the owner.
Individuals who take the training can receive multiple stickers as they will need one for each trailer that they own. Additional decals for other trailers cost $2.00 each.
The decal must be adhered to the side of the trailer frame tongue near the hitch in a manner that is readily visible and does not interfere with the display of any other trailer registration requirements.
You can trailer watercraft or water-related equipment as soon as you finish training. You’ll get a temporary completion certificate at the end of the training that you keep with you until your decal arrives in the mail.
This new trailer decal requirement applies to all trailered watercraft and water related equipment, including non-residents.
Leave a Reply