Courtesy Boat Inspection is one of the most beneficial programs that helps prevent invasive species from crossing lake to lake. One fragment of milfoil from this lake could be detrimental to an invasive-free lake.

 

From Maine.Gov:

Background 

The purpose of these voluntary inspections is to reduce the spread of invasive aquatic plants (IAP) by boats, trailers, and associated equipment to Maine waters.  Trained Courtesy Boat Inspectors discuss with boaters the risk posed by IAP, show boaters how to inspect and remove vegetation from boating and fishing equipment, and urge boaters to inspect before and after every launch. 

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Courtesy Boat Inspection Results Summary - 2019 Season
Maine’s 2019 Courtesy Boat Inspection program had another busy season, recording 89,860 courtesy boat inspections. To achieve this, 44,840 inspection hours were logged in 2019, roughly equivalent to 22 full-time employees.  Boats were inspected both entering and leaving the water with most inspections (59%) conducted on boats entering. Maintaining this high level of prevention effort is a tremendous achievement for local and regional groups running the inspection programs. 
 

Courtesy Boat Inspection Statistics
- 89,860 total inspections on both motorized and non-motorized boats
- 99% of the motorized boats had the Lake & River Protection Sticker
- 123 launch sites on 94 waterbodies had CBIs
- 15 infested waterbodies had a CBI Program
- 2,901 inspections (3.2%) yielded plant fragments – native or invasive (and) of these …, 74 (2.6%) were “saves” (invasive plants) found primarily on boats exiting infested waters
- 53 organizations CBIs – plus 51 bass clubs inspected member boats at their permitted tournaments
- 620 courtesy boat inspectors (paid and volunteer) worked a total of 44,840 hours

Inspections have remained about 80,000 annually since 2012 and the 2019 season produced an all-time high of 89,860 inspections as the graph below shows.
 

SELF INSPECTION is strongly encouraged! If there is not a CBI at the time of launch or loading, please take the time to look over your motor, boat, trailer, and anything else that could potentially hold a plant fragment.