New sticker requirement. Beginning in 2002, all motorized watercraft on inland waters must display the Lake and River Protection Sticker ("Preserve Maine Waters").
No sticker is required for operating a boat in tidal waters. The Warden Service determines the boundary between inland and tidal waters on tidal rivers. "Motorized watercraft"
includes any boat with any type of motor, including canoes with electric motors and personal watercraft.
How much; where get it; where put it. The Maine Resident sticker costs $10. The Nonresident sticker costs $20. The cost depends on the residency of the boat, not the boater!
Out-of-state residents who register their boat in Maine pay the "Resident" sticker fee. Stickers are available for sale wherever boats are registered or fishing licenses are sold.
Place the sticker next to your registration sticker.
You should know that invasive aquatic plants threaten maine's Lakes, Rivers and Streams.
- Just ONE plant can permanently infest an entire lake!
- Invasive aquatic plants ruin boating, swimming and fishing.
- Invasive plants are impossible to remove once they are established.
- Invasive plants spread rapidly.
- Infestations lead to reduced property values.
- Boating is the primary way that these plants are spread between waters.
- Plant parts can be carried on vehicles, boats, motors, trailers, fishing gear and other equipment used at infested waters.
- Aquatic plants can survive out-of-water for days.
What are "Invasive Species?" Invasive species are plants, animals and even microbes that are introduced from other regions and aggressively out-compete native species.
How are Invasive Species spread? Invasive Species are usually spread as a result of peoples’ activities. Examples include carp from illegal fish stocking, Eurasian milfoil from
boat and gear transport, and zebra mussels from engine cooling water and live wells.
What harm do these critters do? It varies with each species. For example, invasive aquatic plants can grow densely, crowd out native plants, reduce fish movement, stunt growth,
shade out the bottom, reduce the number of snails and other useful animals, and change water chemistry in dense plant beds.
What’s at stake? Every year in the United States, government agencies and private citizens spend over $100 million to combat invasive aquatic plants. Closer to home, Vermont
has spent over $6 million since 1980 to control these plants, and this year expects over $700,000 in requests from municipalities for help in dealing with the problem. In
addition, invasive species cost billions of dollars in lost recreation and property values, and ruin habitat for native species.
Does Maine have a lot of invasive species? Right now, Maine has at least 45 invasive species ranging from green crab in ocean waters to white carp in a number of rivers. There
are literally scores of other invasive species that have spread into other New England States in the last few decades. Maine had documented at least 8 lakes and 2 rivers with
invasive variable milfoil. We know of at least 10 other aquatic invasive plants which are either in New England or likely to get here soon.
Aren’t all plants good for fish like bass? Plant life in lakes and streams is essential to good fisheries. In moderate densities, aquatic plants provide just the right blend
of cover and edge for successful fish growth and places to produce forage for smaller fish. The very dense growths of plants often seen with invasive species like milfoil and
water chestnut have the opposite effect.
What is Maine doing about this problem? In 2000 Maine launched an effort to prevent the spread of invasive species, starting with aquatic plants, the most obvious problem. This
includes educating people how to avoid spreading plants, how to watch out for them, and what to do if you find them. The effort also includes thousands of voluntary boat
inspections by wardens and volunteers, information given to incoming motorists, and projects to eradicate new infestations where possible. We are also cooperating with other
states in our region along with federal agencies.
Why bother to do all this if the plants are going to get here anyway? We know, from other states’ experiences, that we can slow down the spread and even prevent introductions
in at least some instances. The longer we keep these pests out, the more time we have to develop better control methods and the more recreation people can enjoy without these
species in their favorite lakes.
When is a sticker required? A Lake and River Protection Sticker is required to be posted within 3 inches of your current year’s registration on the bow of all motorized
watercraft when operating on inland waters. This sticker requirement applies to both motorboats registered in Maine and motorboats from other states operating in Maine. No
sticker is required for watercraft on tidal waters or for canoes and other boats not required to be registered. Contact your regional warden service headquarters for the exact
boundary between tidal and inland waters on specific rivers.
Where do I get the sticker? Stickers can be purchased at any of over 1400 DIFW agents that sell fishing and hunting licenses or where boats are registered. These include town
offices and hundreds of small stores, as well as some large retail chains. The cost is $10 for Maine registered boats and $20 for those registered in other states while operating
on Maine’s inland waters.
What does this sticker pay for? 100% of the funds raised go to pay for efforts to prevent spread of invasive aquatic species. None of this money will be used for other DIFW
or DEP work. Along with new warden staff and DEP specialists, much of the money is going to volunteer work and education efforts along with the boat inspections. Examples:
- Inspecting boats and trailers
- Educating boaters and lake users
- Managing infested sites
- Training volunteers
- Reducing the spread of invasives from other states
- Supporting local prevention projects
- Creating a statewide taskforce
It's a small price to pay to preserve Maine's Waters!
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