Although the new law requiring boat trailer owners to complete Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aquatic invasive species training was enacted on January 1, 2015, the online training is not yet available. The DNR webpage now states that training will be available on January 31, 2015.
According to the DNR, 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 have this trailer decal. There is time to get this done—the deadline to have a decal on boat trailers is July 2, 2015.
Online training should be available on the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us on January 31. Paper home-study training packets will also be available.
The online training cost is $5. A paper homestudy 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.
The new training requirement and decal replaces an earlier program begun in May 2014 that required watercraft owners to place a different decal that included a summary of the state’s AIS laws on his or her boat.
This new trailer decal requirement applies to all trailered watercraft and water related equipment, including non-residents.
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