Aquatic Intruders or Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are non-native animals and plants that enter into new areas and spread, causing
damage to native species and their habitats.

Many of these species can attach themselves to boats, on hulls, rudders and props.
They can also be carried in ballast and bilge water, or as bait or attached to shellfish shells. As vessels travel from one area to another, such species are inadvertently transported to new bodies of water where they pose a threat to existing eco-systems, causing damage to native species and their habitats, potentially introducing new parasites and diseases and disrupting food supplies.

The buildup of some of these species on a boat hull can result in increased fuel costs, poorer boat maneuverability and increased clean up costs at the end of the season. The efforts of all boaters are important to controlling and reducing this problem. Detection, identification, as well as proactive efforts such as regular hull cleaning and boat treating can drastically reduce the risk of species being transferred to different waterways.

It is also essential that the species be detected, identified or isolated as soon as possible, so please report sightings to the appropriate authority.