Invasive species: prevent movement, do not improvise removal

Why fishing equipment needs attention

Nets, mats, keepnets, slings, boots, waders, boats and damp luggage can retain water, mud, eggs or plant fragments. An item can look clean while seams and mesh remain wet. Moving between waters without a routine creates an avoidable pathway.

Use Check, Clean, Dry every time

1. Check.Inspect equipment and clothing before leaving the water. Remove visible organisms, mud and plant material where guidance permits.
2. Clean.Clean thoroughly according to the official Check, Clean, Dry guidance, fishery instructions and equipment care information.
3. Dry.Drain and dry all parts, including folds, boot treads, mesh and hollow sections, before another water.

Keep wet items separate during transport. Do not move fish, plants, bait water or sediment between venues.

Follow the fishery's biosecurity system

A venue may require dry nets, its own dip, a quarantine period or restrictions on boats and keepnets. Check before travel and use products only at the stated concentration and in the stated place. Never mix chemicals or pour cleaning liquid into a drain or watercourse.

Report rather than remove

If an unfamiliar plant or animal is found, photograph it only from a safe, permitted position and record the location. Do not pull, cut, transport, release or destroy it unless the responsible body directs that action. Incorrect removal can spread fragments or harm native species.

Use the reporting route named by the fishery or the GB Non-native Species Secretariat. Different arrangements may apply in Northern Ireland, so follow the local official guidance.

See the full fishing biosecurity routine before switching waters.