AIS Stickers Required Again

Game and Fish officials are reminding boaters that along with registration of boats for the upcoming boating season, watercraft using Wyoming waters must have an Aquatic Invasive Species decal. Spokesman Mark Gocke says this is the third year the AIS decal and watercraft inspection program has been in effect.  Gocke says the money generated by the permit has enabled the department to employ numerous employees to check the boats coming into Wyoming’s waters to assure they are not transporting invasive species.  Primary among those invaders are Zebra mussels (or Quadra mussels).  Gocke says a couple boats last year were found to have the mussels, but they were dried and dead.  Costs are $10 for motorized watercraft registered in Wyoming, $30 for motorized watercraft registered in other states, $5 for non-motorized watercraft owned by Wyoming residents, and $15 for non-motorized watercraft owned by nonresidents.  The decal must be displayed on all watercraft using Wyoming waters with the exception of inflatable watercraft 10-feet in length or less. Gocke points out that watercraft with Idaho AIS decals still need to have Wyoming decals to be used in Wyoming waters.  The 2012 decals are now available on the Game and Fish website wgfd.wyo.gov, at all Game and Fish regional offices, and at automated license agents.