"Check, Clean, Dry" - Curbing biological invasions in our inland waters

As part of the fight against biological invasions in Belgium, a new national campaign entitled "Check – Clean – Dry" was launched on May 15. Supported by regional authorities, it aims at raising awareness among users of freshwater ecosystems about biosecurity. On this occasion, several aquatic sector federations signed voluntary codes of conduct, demonstrating their concrete commitment to protecting biodiversity.

Kelle Moreau

On Thursday, May 15, representatives of four key sectors active in freshwater environments in Belgium gathered to mark an important milestone in the fight against biological invasions. During an official ceremony at the Institute of Natural Sciences, federations and organizations from the sectors of aquatic sports, angling, aquaculture, recreational and professional boating signed voluntary codes of conduct, demonstrating their shared commitment to protecting our aquatic ecosystems.

This initiative, coordinated by the National Scientific Secretariat for Invasive Alien Species (NSS-IAS, based at the Institute of Natural Sciences) on behalf of the regional authorities (Brussels Environment, Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos (ANB), and the Department of Nature and Forests (DNF)), is part of a comprehensive European-wide approach to combating invasive alien species (IAS) (European Regulation (EU) 1143/2014) and is part of the National Action Plan on priority pathways, which constitutes the Belgian implementation of the necessary prevention measures.

A voluntary and collaborative commitment

The adopted codes of conduct are a voluntary instrument aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of IAS in Belgium's aquatic ecosystems. They are the result of a participatory process that began a year ago with the various sectors involved. Together, they defined biosecurity measures that are both effective in limiting the spread of IAS and compatible with user practices.

The signatory federations and organizations thus commit to encouraging their members to implement rigorous biosecurity protocols and to participate in awareness-raising activities regarding biological invasions and their impact. A guide for waterbodies managers has also been published to include biosecurity in the technical specifications.

The "Check - Clean - Dry" campaign

At the same time, a national communication campaign is being launched to raise awareness about biosecurity among all recreational and professional users of freshwater environments—whether they are kayakers, anglers, divers, boaters, fish farmers, or managers.

Inspired by campaigns already in place elsewhere in Europe, such as in Great Britain since 2011, this initiative aims to prevent the accidental spread of IAS via wet equipment. The central message: "Become heroes in protecting our aquatic ecosystems."

But what exactly is the problem?

Biological invasions pose a threat to the biodiversity of our waterways, rivers, and lakes. The often accidental introduction of these species can seriously disrupt the natural equilibrium of ecosystems and, in turn, have harmful consequences for the economy and leisure activities.

Whether animal or plant, IAS often spread accidentally. For example, via the hull of a pleasure boat or fishing gear that has not been properly cleaned after a trip abroad or used in various locations. IAS can be small and difficult to spot, can usually survive temporary drought, and therefore spread easily on equipment and clothing.

Once established, these species can grow, spread, and thus damage infrastructure and hamper business. But they can also cause problems by transmitting diseases that affect the health of animals and humans.

A simple action, a significant impact

After each aquatic activity, it is recommended to follow three simple steps:

1.      Check: Inspect and remove all traces of mud, plants, or animals from equipment and clothing.

2.      Clean: Rinse equipment thoroughly with water, preferably on site, and use hot water if possible.

3.      Dry: Allow equipment to dry for at least 48 hours before reuse.

In this way, everyone can help stop the introduction and spread of invasive plants and animals in our waters!

All information about the campaign, codes of conduct, and actions to take are available at https://www.iasregulation.be/checkcleandry.