As fishing and boating seasons ramp up across the country, Wildlife Forever, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and leading conservation groups proclaim Saturday, May 15th as National Clean Drain Dry Day. Supporting organizations have signed a Conservation Proclamation to highlight the importance of invasive species awareness when boating and angling.
During the pandemic, millions of new boaters and anglers purchased boats, fishing licenses and equipment, in search of safe outdoor activities. Educating this new audience about invasive species and the Clean Drain Dry conservation practices is important to protect the resource and future of outdoor recreation. Invasive species are preventable; their spread can be slowed by giving every craft a thorough inspection before and after entering a waterbody.
“Fishing and boating season is upon us and we hope everyone will enjoy America’s great outdoors,” said Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for the MRAA. “However, we must be diligent about invasive species. Clean Drain Dry Day is about reminding boaters and anglers that invasive species are preventable. Everyone needs to do their part to Clean Drain Dry, all boats, every time.”
Fishing and boating generate 300 billion dollars to state and local economies where revenues are used to fund habitat restoration, stocking, and other conservation efforts. Invasive species pose a direct threat to local economies and natural resources by reducing biodiversity, water quality and impeding access for recreation. The National Conservation Proclamation and Clean Drain Dry Day is a moment to remind all recreational users of the simple steps to help prevent invasive species spread.
Organizations supporting May 15th as National Clean Drain Dry Day include:
National: American Sportfishing Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, Boat US Foundation, CD3, Major League Fishing, Marine Max, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Professional Anglers Association, North American Invasive Species Management Association, Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, Rep Your Water, Wildlife Forever, Wired2Fish, Yamaha Rightwaters.
State/Local: North Dakota Game and Fish, Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center, Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association, Beltrami County, Benton County, Crow Wing County, Murray County, Nicollet County, North St. Louis SWCD, Red Lake County SWCD, Sibley SWCD, Wright SWCD, The Maine B.A.S.S. Nation, The Michigan B.A.S.S Nation, Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, Voyageurs Conservancy.
“I want to thank the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas for their commitment to join us in supporting this national day of invasive species awareness. A unified voice is always stronger, and I look forward to working more closely with our industry and community stakeholders,” said Pat Conzemius, President & CEO of Wildlife Forever.
Clean Drain Dry Day also kicks off National Invasive Species Awareness Week with activities planned across the country. Contact your local organizations to organize activities such as: public awareness events, invasive species removal projects, or meetings with elected officials to engage them on how they can help better protect local communities from invasive species. View the Conservation Proclamation here.
Clean Drain Dry Initiative™ – Designed nationally, implemented locally, it is the national campaign to educate outdoor recreational users on how to prevent the spread of invasive species. Coordinated messaging focuses on consistency, professional marketing, communication tools, and educational materials.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas: At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.
About Wildlife Forever: Our mission is to conserve America’s fish and wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife. Wildlife Forever is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to investing resources on the ground. Recent audits reveal that 96% of every dollar supports our award-winning conservation programs.
