New Law Requires Anglers to Purchase Prevention Pass

Anglers in Montana are now required to buy an additional pass to fish in the state.

The mandatory Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention Pass was part of Senate Bill 363 which was signed by Gov. Steve Bullock Thursday, May 24.

The pass must be purchased once a year in addition to a fishing license. Resident passes cost $2, while nonresident passes are $15.

“We know this will be an inconvenience to some anglers but protecting the health of our waterways is critical,” said FWP director Martha Williams in a press release. “The AIS program we have in place is our best chance at keeping mussels from spreading to other Montana waters and at keeping other invasive species from gaining a foothold in the state.”

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) notes in a press release that this is “not a license fee increase but rather an additional requirement from the legislature to fund the fight against aquatic species.”

The pass is expected to generate significant funding—approximately $3.2 million per year— for Montana to combat AIS. The funding was approved after the discovery of invasive mussel larvae in Tiber reservoir and Canyon Ferry earlier this year.

“This is a hugely big move for the state,” says Joann Wallenburn, administrative coordinator for Clearwater Resource Council. “The state is taking measures much further than they have in the past.”

The response plan includes an increased number of watercraft inspection stations and decontamination stations, as well as more public education and outreach efforts.

The pass is available online and at all FWP license providers including Rovero’s in Seeley Lake, and Blackfoot Angler and Supplies in Ovando. Anglers who have already purchased licenses for the year will need to purchase the new pass.

The legislation also puts a fee on hydro-electric plants that will generate an additional $3.7 million. Wallenburn thinks that instead of attaching a fee to hydro-electric facilities—which may cause a small increase in electric bills—watercraft owners should be required to pay a fee since AIS are transported via watercraft.

“When was the last time a hydro-electric plant left the state and came back with an invasive species?” she said.