Press Releases
08/27/2025
DEEP Reminds Boaters to Purchase AIS Stamp Ahead of Targeted Enforcement this Labor Day Weekend
All Boaters Operating a Registered Vessel on Connecticut’s Inland Waters Are Required to Purchase an AIS Stamp
(HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds boaters to purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Stamp ahead of enhanced enforcement efforts over Labor Day Weekend. Anyone who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft on Connecticut’s inland waters, including the designated inland waters of the Connecticut, Housatonic and Thames Rivers, is required to purchase an AIS Stamp. The AIS Stamp can be purchased through DEEP’s online Sportsmen Licensing System or wherever fishing licenses are sold. DEEP urges inland boaters who have not yet purchased their 2025 AIS Stamp, to do so before heading on the water this weekend. An AIS Stamp annual purchase is required for both Connecticut residents and out-of-state visitors operating a registered vessel on Connecticut’s inland waters.
The spread of aquatic invasive species can wreak havoc on the economy and the environment. AIS are non-native plants or animals which, when introduced into aquatic environments and left unchecked, can cause significant harm to native wildlife species, water quality, and recreational opportunities for boaters and anglers. Connecticut is no stranger to these nuisance species, with several aggressive plants, fish, and shellfish currently dispersed throughout our waterbodies.
The State Legislature established the AIS Stamp Program in 2019, and it is the primary source of funding for the Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers Preservation Account which provides grant funding to non-profit groups and municipalities for research, treatment, and education campaigns that combat AIS. Previously the AIS Stamp fee was included with boat registrations. Beginning in October 2024, boaters were required to purchase the AIS Stamp annually through the Sportsman Licensing System.
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110