Introduction

Through the Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) Watercraft Inspection program, citizens are trained in how to organize a boate​r education campaign in their​​​ local community. Folks interested in becoming watercraft inspectors and sharing aquatic invasive species prevention information with boaters and anglers at the boat landing attend a workshop that provides training and resources. These videos depict seven different scenarios that inspectors may encounter while at the boat landing. They serve as supplements to what is learned at the workshop, providing examples for inspectors to watch during the training or later during the refresher.

Scenario 1 – Complete Watercraft Inspection

This video depicts a complete watercraft inspection from start to finish as a boater prepares to launch their boat. The watercraft inspector introduces himself to the boater, asks if the boater has time to answer a few questions, and shares his concern for spreading invasive species from lake to lake. In this example, the boater is a regular at this lake, and this is the first time she’s been out to boat this season. She also is aware of the need to remove plants from her boat and trailer, but doesn’t completely understand the prevention step and law to drain all water from boats and equipment before leaving the landing. The inspector offers her some useful handouts, a brochure and sticker, for her to refer to if she has questions later. Most importantly, he remembers to thank her for her time!

The main points to remember from this scenario are:

• Friendly greeting
• Basic questions – Previous contact with inspector? Willing to answer questions? Boat been elsewhere last 5 days?
• Discuss the prevention steps
• Thank the boater!

Scenario 2 – Boater leaving with aquatic plants attached

This scenario begins after the inspector has introduced herself to the boater and asked if he has time to answer a few questions. As she inspects the boat, the inspector can see that there are plants attached. The boater understands he needs to remove the plants and attempts to do so, but complains about the difficulty of reaching and removing the plants. To assist him, the inspector offers him a tool to make reaching the plants under the boat easier. The boat’s motor has already been lowered for draining, and the inspector makes sure to remind the boater of the law that requires all water to be drained from the boat and live-well, too. Importantly, the inspector ends their conversation by thanking the boater for his time.

Scenario 3 – A transient angler leaving with water-filled cooler

This scenario begins after the inspector has introduced himself to the angler, asked if she has time to answer a few questions, and if she’s talked to an inspector before. The angler tells the inspector that she encounters watercraft inspectors frequently at the northern Wisconsin boat landings she visits while fishing. This information lets the inspector know that she’s a transient angler, and he makes sure to emphasize the need to drain all water and follow the state laws. The inspector shares the importance of draining all water from the boat, livewell, and equipment.

A​nother important aspect of this scenario is how the watercraft inspector tailors his conversation with the angler. By mentioning his concern that invasive species living in his local Madison lake could spread to northern lakes if the prevention steps aren’t followed, he localizes his message and is able to clearly share his motivation. The angler states she is aware of and always takes care to drain the water, as she drains her cooler during their conversation. This is an important step since the angler travels around the state fishing and also mentions that she caught fish while on the lake that day. Lastly, the inspector is sure to thank her for taking the time to speak with him!

4. A local angler leaving with a water-filled cooler

This scenario begins after the inspector has introduced himself to the angler, asked if he has time to answer a few questions, and if he’s talked to an inspector before. The inspector asks if can see the angler’s catch, which allows him to compliment the angler on his success and inquire about whether he used live or artificial bait. The angler thinks using live bait takes too much effort, and this response tells the inspector that he does not need to cover Wisconsin’s live bait rules during his conversation.

​The inspector shares the importance of draining all water from the boat, livewell, and any equipment and learns from the angler that he doesn’t drain water from his cooler since he lives just around the corner. This tells the inspector that he needs to explain to the angler why it’s important to drain all water, even from coolers holding any catch. Since the angler mentions that the reason he doesn’t want to drain the water from the cooler is to keep his fish fresh, the inspector offers an alternative by sharing that fish can be put on ice to keep them fresh and that this is compliant with the state regulations. Their conversation ends with the inspector offering the angler handouts for him to refer to later. And, of course, he thanks the angler for his time!

5. An angler leaving with live bait

This scenario begins after the inspector has introduced himself to the angler, asked if he has time to answer a few questions, and if he’s talked to an inspector before. Since the inspector can see that the angler has been fishing that day, he asks him if he was using live bait. By asking this question, the inspector can determine whether or not he should include the live bait laws during the conversation.

The angler is using live bait and wants to continue fishing the next day, so the inspector explains when and how live bait can be re-used. He clearly explains why you do not want to transfer water from one lake to another and why you can only re-use live bait on the same lake if lake water has been added to the bait container. Because the laws regarding live bait use are lengthy and can be confusing, he offers the angler a brochure that details the live bait laws and why they’re important. He ends his conversation by thanking the angler for taking the time to talk with him!

The main elements to take away from this scenario are the live bait law basics. Wisconsin laws state:

• Leftover minnows can be used again on the same water or another water IF no lake or river water or fish have been added to the container.
• Don’t dump bait in water. Dispose of used bait in trash, if possible.

6. The boater who’s had their watercraft inspected multiple times

This scenario begins after the inspector has introduced herself to the boater as he is leaving the landing. The inspector asks the boater if he has encountered an inspector before, which will tell her how much aquatic invasive species prevention information he might already have heard. The boater says he has talked to many inspectors and is clearly annoyed, so the inspector makes her message short and concise. She covers the prevention steps of inspecting the boat and trailer for vegetation and debris and removing anything found; draining all water from the boat, livewell, and equipment; and not to move live fish. Before walking away, she thanks the boater for taking the time to listen!

7. The boater who recently boated in a lake with AIS

This scenario begins after the inspector has introduced herself to the angler who is preparing to launch, asked if she has time to answer a few questions, and if she’s talked to an inspector before. The inspector asks the boater if she’s used her boat elsewhere in the past week. She asks this question to determine how much risk the boater may pose in introducing a new invasive species to the lake. The boater states that she has boated in Lake Winnebago in the past week. This lets the inspector know that she needs to emphasize the importance of removing plants and draining water before the boater enters the lake.

The inspector shows the boater where plants are most likely to be attached and goes over the importance of draining water since the boater mentions that she doesn’t normally take that step before leaving the landing. She also explains that her role as an inspector is to provide information, not to ticket the boater. As she ends their conversation, the inspector offers the boater an informational brochure and sticker, and thanks her for her time!