Help stop the spread of invasive plants and animals!

There is a greater risk of invasive plants and animals being spread during an event or competition, where participants could unknowingly introduce them on their boat and kit, or take them away to the water bodies they usually visit. The risk is even higher if participants are visiting from abroad.

Event organisers can play a key part in protecting club waters by ensuring participants follow a good biosecurity routine to reduce the risk of introducing and spreading invasive plants and animals. 

Basic biosecurity for events

Below are some suggested actions that can help protect the water bodies you manage or use.

Before the event

• Ask participants to arrive at the event with all their kit clean and dry. 
• Pre-event information for participants in angling events is available: English (PDF) | Czech (PDF) | French (PDF) | Croatian (PDF) | Hungarian (PDF) | Italian (PDF) | Lithuanian (PDF) | Latvian (PDF) | Polish (PDF) | Romanian (PDF) | Russian (PDF) | Ukranian (PDF).

On the day

• Set up a cleaning station for those who turn up with damp or dirty kit.
• Limit access to water bodies, preferably to a single point where Check Clean Dry signs are displayed. Participants should log in and out, confirming that they have cleaned and inspected their equipment.
• If possible, provide equipment that can be borrowed and used instead of personal equipment (e.g. trailers for boaters, nets and drogues for anglers).
• Put waterproof Check Clean Dry stickers on any club-owned equipment to remind users to follow the guidance.

After participants have taken part

• All participants should clean and dry their equipment after taking part. View Check Clean Dry guidance for anglers, boaters, and paddlers.

Resources

A number of free resources are available to help you plan your event biosecurity : 

• Paddling Event Biosecurity Pack (PDF) - developed by British Canoeing and North Wales Wildlife Trust.
• Angling Event Biosecurity Pack (PDF) - developed by the Angling Trust and North Wales Wildlife Trust.
• Boating Sustainable Event Toolkit - developed by RYA
• Event Biosecurity Support Pack (PDF) - developed by the Cumbria Freshwater Invasive Non-Native Species Initiative
• Scottish Event Biosecurity Support Guide (PDF) and Biosecurity Risk Assessment (PDF)
• Free online biosecurity training. 

Free Check Clean Dry materials are available to help you raise awareness at events, including biosecurity signs to display by entry and exit points to the water. 

Thank you for helping to protect the environment.