Clean equipment, vehicles, clothing and personal protective equipment to maintain biosecurity

All equipment, vehicles, clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) should be thoroughly inspected. Any debris such as mud, plant or animal matter should be removed and left at the site. Attention should be paid to the seams and seals of boots, waders and drysuits. Any pockets of pooled water should be emptied.

Equipment should be hosed down or pressure washed on site. The resulting polluting materials should be contained on site and not be allowed to enter any other watercourse or drainage system.

If facilities are unavailable on-site, any contaminated items should be carefully contained. Once cleaned, equipment may require dipping in disinfectant solution. This may prevent the spread of some diseases but is unlikely to kill invasive non-native species.

The GB non-native species secretariat (NNSS) provides ‘Check Clean Dry’ biosecurity advice:

• Check your equipment and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material. Remove anything you find and leave it at the site.
• Clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can, paying attention to areas that are damp or hard to access. Use hot water if possible.
• Dry everything for as long as you can before using elsewhere, as some invasive plants and animals can survive for over two weeks in damp conditions.