April 14, 2026

By Brian Goodwin, Director, Standards and Compliance

When the ABYC Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project Technical Committee met to review ABYC T‑32, Design and Construction in Consideration of Aquatic Invasive Species, one question from the resource management community rose quickly to the forefront: What specific steps have manufacturers taken to reduce the risk of transporting AIS through boat and equipment design? Preventing the spread of invasive species is no longer viewed solely as a boater‑behavior issue—it is increasingly a design and engineering responsibility shared across the marine industry.

Several meaningful trends are emerging as manufacturers respond to AIS challenges:

              • Improved Drainability: Builders are reshaping bilge spaces, livewells, and storage compartments to promote full drainage and minimize water retention during trailering.

              • Integrated Clean‑Drain‑Dry Features: Simplified access to plugs, improved water‑evacuation pathways, and design elements that support Clean‑Drain‑Dry practices are becoming more common.

              • Propulsion and Cooling System Refinements: Outboard and sterndrive manufacturers continue to adjust cooling pathways and water intakes to reduce the risk of vegetation or small organisms becoming trapped.

              • Ballast System Library: Several manufacturers have contributed information for a detailed ballast‑system library to give AIS decontamination programs a clearer understanding of system layouts, water pathways, and potential retention points. This transparency helps inspection and decontamination teams more effectively identify and address areas where AIS may persist.

As the PTC reviewed these developments, a consistent theme emerged: industry innovation is already contributing to AIS prevention, and communicating these improvements is essential. When manufacturers share the design changes, engineering solutions, and system‑level refinements they have implemented, it demonstrates to the resource‑management community that the marine industry is actively engaged and committed to being part of the solution. This visibility strengthens collaboration, informs policy and inspection practices, and ensures that future revisions of T‑32 accurately reflect current best practices and emerging technologies.

On a different front, the Bureau of Reclamation recently launched a three‑phase prize competition—Halt the Hitchhiker: Invasive Species Challenge—to spur new technologies that prevent AIS from being transported in watercraft ballast compartments. The challenge seeks solutions that can neutralize or exclude AIS while remaining safe for watercraft and the environment. With quagga, zebra, and now golden mussels posing increasing risks to western water infrastructure, the competition aims to complement existing Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination programs by advancing scalable, efficient approaches. Details and eligibility information are available at haltthehitchhiker.yet2.com.

For additional guidance on AIS‑related design and construction considerations, refer to ABYC T‑32, Design and Construction in Consideration of Aquatic Invasive Species.