Quick answer: The Great Britain Non-native Species Secretariat asks every water user to Check, Clean and Dry their kit whenever they leave the water. For stand up paddleboarders that means checking the board, equipment and clothing for mud, aquatic animals and plant material, cleaning everything thoroughly (with hot water if possible), and drying it for as long as possible before using it somewhere else, because some invasive species can survive for two weeks in damp conditions.
Most paddlers think of safety kit and weather, but a damp leash or a muddy fin can quietly carry invasive plants and animals from one lake or river to another. The Check Clean Dry campaign covers Great Britain, with materials available in Welsh as well as English. This article summarises the Non-native Species Secretariat’s (NNSS) guidance for paddleboarders. It is general information; follow any signs at the water you use.
Why it matters
The NNSS explains that plants and animals from all over the world have been introduced to British waters by people, usually accidentally. Most are harmless, but some become invasive. The NNSS page says that over fifty different invasive freshwater species have already been found in lakes, rivers and other waters, and that the number of new arrivals is increasing rapidly.
According to the NNSS, invasive non-native species cause serious environmental problems that can be irreversible. They can clog propellers, damage boats, block up waterways so that fishing and paddling become difficult, and increase the risk of flooding. For paddleboarders, the NNSS guidance notes that invasive plants and animals harm the environment and wildlife, can be small and hard to spot, and are easily spread on damp equipment and clothing. Once established they become extremely difficult and expensive to eradicate, which is why preventing their spread is stressed.
Check
The NNSS asks paddleboarders to check boards, equipment and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material. Anything found should be removed and left at the site. In practice, that includes the fin and fin box, leash, paddle, pump hose and any bag or footwear that touched the water.
Clean
Clean everything thoroughly as soon as possible, paying attention to areas that are damp and hard to access. The NNSS suggests using hot water if possible. The NNSS also publishes a paddling washdown station poster and refers paddlers to further guidance in the Recreational Boating Pathway Action Plan for Great Britain, including advice for paddle sports and a page on hot water as a cleaning method.
Dry
The NNSS says paddleboarders should dry the board with a sponge or towel before leaving the site, particularly an inflatable board that will be folded away for storage. Everything should then be dried thoroughly for as long as possible before it is used elsewhere, because some invasive plants and animals can survive for two weeks in damp conditions. That point matters for inflatables, which are rolled into a bag; the site’s guide to looking after your paddle board covers cleaning and storage in more detail.
Going abroad with your kit
The NNSS stresses that Check Clean Dry is even more important if kit has been taken abroad, because it could bring back new invasive plants and animals. Everything should be cleaned and dried thoroughly before it is used again at home. A board that has travelled is a good reason to repeat the full routine before its first paddle in Great Britain, and the site’s guide to paddle boarding weekend packing is a handy place to add a drying step to the trip list.
Beyond your own kit
The NNSS lists further ways to help:
- share the Check Clean Dry actions with a paddling club, and take the guidance for clubs and managers of waterbodies seriously;
- if you help to run an event, note the NNSS point that the risk of spreading invasive species to new water bodies is even higher at events and competitions, where participants could unknowingly introduce them on their kit or take them away to their usual spots;
- look out for and record invasive non-native species online through iRecord or a smartphone app, using the free identification guides for over 60 species;
- take the free online training in identification, recording and biosecurity;
- join a Local Action Group working on invasive species management, or learn how paddlers are helping to control floating pennywort.
The NNSS adds that free materials are available, including a stand up paddleboarding poster, a leaflet, a pocket ID guide and a waterproof sticker, and that hard copies can be requested.
A simple routine after every paddle
- Check the board, fin, leash, paddle and clothing for weed and mud before leaving the bank.
- Leave anything you remove at the site.
- Wipe the board down with a sponge or towel, particularly if it is an inflatable.
- Clean with hot water as soon as you can, then dry everything for as long as possible before using it at another water.
The bottom line
Check Clean Dry costs little and protects every lake and river that paddlers enjoy. The Non-native Species Secretariat’s message for paddleboarders is simple: check for weed, mud and animals, clean thoroughly with hot water if possible, and dry for as long as you can, because invasive species can survive in damp kit for around two weeks. The routine matters most after travelling abroad and before moving between waters.
Sources
- Check Clean Dry (nonnativespecies.org)
- Stand Up Paddleboarders: Check Clean Dry (nonnativespecies.org)
- Paddlers: Check Clean Dry (nonnativespecies.org)