The Manitoba government is investing an additional $540,000 to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), including a new fund to deliver AIS prevention resources to partners across the province, Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes announced today during Invasive Species Awareness Week in Manitoba.
“Manitobans care deeply about our beautiful lakes and rivers and we want to ensure that all Manitobans will be able to enjoy them for generations to come,” said Moyes. “That’s why our government has stepped up with funding for partners and communities to support their efforts in protecting Manitoba’s waterways from aquatic invasive species.”
Budget 2025 includes $410,000 in AIS prevention including the new Manitoba Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund to help deliver AIS prevention resources to partners across the province. This fund will provide funding to municipal governments, Indigenous governments, non-government organizations and water-user groups, to help implement AIS prevention programs, projects and supports.
In addition, the Manitoba government is investing $130,000 for equipment dedicated to AIS prevention and mitigation efforts.
“In 2015, the Gull Lake Basin Management Board launched a self-run decontamination station to combat AIS with support from the Manitoba AIS Program. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, we’ve kept Gull Lake AIS-free,” said Kevin Betzold, Gull Lake Basin Management Board. “I urge all at-risk communities to work with Manitoba’s AIS Program, as we all play a role in prevention. I want to make special mention of our late president, David Cairns, for his relentless work to protect waterways in Manitoba and educate Manitobans on the seriousness of AIS. Don’t wait for AIS to strike, I encourage you to be proactive and take action.”
“The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) welcomes increased provincial funding to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species including the creation of a dedicated AIS Prevention Fund,” said Kathy Valentino, president, AMM. “With more Manitobans expected to visit local waterbodies this summer, this investment, along with the heightened awareness it brings, is both timely and critical. Ongoing support and long-term funding will be vital to protect our lakes and waterways for future generations.”
The human-caused spread of AIS is preventable. Water users are reminded to clean, drain and dry watercraft and water-related equipment to prevent the spread of AIS. Anglers are also reminded it is illegal to import live bait into Manitoba.
Later this spring, watercraft inspection stations will be set up throughout Manitoba to help water users comply with AIS requirements. Anyone transporting motorized or non-motorized watercraft over land must stop at all open watercraft inspection stations along their route. Operating schedules for these stations will be posted on the AIS website.
Manitobans are legally required to clean, drain and dry both motorized and non-motorized watercraft. This includes power boats, jet skis, sailboats, stand-up paddle boards, canoes and kayaks, as well as all water-related equipment including:
- watercraft trailers;
- fishing gear;
- paddles and anchors;
- farm and industrial gear such as water pumps;
- personal flotation devices including life jackets;
- beach toys (such as sand pails and shovels);
- floating devices and inflatables (such as tubes, rafts, water mats and hunting decoys); and
- scuba and snorkeling gear.
In July 2024, the Manitoba government released Manitoba’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention and Response Plan. To read the plan and for more information on AIS, visit: www.manitoba.ca/StopAIS.
Budget 2025 invests over $2.2 million to protect Manitoba’s lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species.
For more information about the AIS partnership program, visit: www.manitoba.ca/stopais/partnerships.html.
