Earlier this week, Minnesota’s new governor, Mark Dayton, rolled out a plan to raise funds to fight aquatic invasive species in the land of 10,000 lakes by imposing a boater’s fee on recreational boaters.
The proposal sounds remarkably familiar to Phil Moy, aquatic invasive species specialist with University of Wisconsin Sea Grant—in part because something similar was once floated in the Badger State.
“A few years ago, before the state’s current round of budget concerns, Wisconsin anglers recommended to the legislature that license fees should be increased to help support DNR activities related to Asian Carp and zebra mussels,” said Moy. “Despite that recommendation–and widespread user support–the Wisconsin Legislature chose not to raise license fees. I suspect any increase in fees or perceived taxes would not be well received in the current budget climate.”
Even without money from increased boater license fees, efforts to curb invasive species have made significant progress. A recent UW-Madison survey of Wisconsin boaters showed a dramatic increase in awareness of AIS and a greater willingness to observe AIS-control laws. Despite this, invaders such as the Asian Carp and Round Goby remain an environmental threat.
“While any state program can use additional support, the Wisconsin DNRs AIS program is fairly well funded,” said Moy. “Actually, the level of funding the program received was based on what Minnesota had spent on AIS efforts. The recent infusion of federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding has helped as well.”
The eventual fate of Minnesota’s AIS boaters’ fee will be decided in the coming month, as Minnesota’s state legislature takes up Gov. Dayton’s budget bill.
