Pop-up border inspection finds zebra mussels on watercraft

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This article was published 16/07/2024 (449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A checkpoint set up at the Manitoba-Ontario border on a weekend in June discovered zebra mussels hitching a ride on vehicles, Fisheries and Oceans Canada reported Tuesday.

Fisheries officers stopped 398 vehicles that towed watercraft from June 21 to 23.

Of that total, 104 had craft that had not been cleaned, drained and dried, or had failed an inspection for aquatic invasive species. Zebra mussels were found on five vehicles.

Watercraft that failed inspection were decontaminated and their owners were educated about how to meet requirements to prevent the spread of invasive species.

“Aquatic invasive species threaten biodiversity by altering food webs, damaging habitats and out-competing native species, causing serious harm to Canada’s aquatic ecosystems,” Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier said in the release.

“They also impact our ability to enjoy outdoor tourism and recreational activities, damage infrastructure, and harm our economy by putting fisheries and related sectors at risk. That’s why we are taking enforcement action against aquatic invasive species to prevent further spread and protect Canada’s ecosystems and economy.”

Also in the release, Manitoba Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses said everyone has a role to protect the province’s waterways “and our province is committed to working together with governments and communities to protect and preserve our waterways from aquatic invasive species for generations to come.”

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The inspection blitz was held after zebra mussel DNA was discovered in Clear Lake at Riding Mountain National Park last year, prompting the closure of the lake to virtually all watercraft and the implementation of stringent inspection requirements for watercraft entering other bodies of water in the park.

When Parks Canada last provided an update on the situation on June 10, it said 26 water samples taken from Clear Lake had tested negative for zebra mussel environmental DNA.

It also said a June 3 visual inspection of the main pier, Clear Lake Marina and nearby shoreline by a dive team had not discovered any zebra mussels.

Representatives from the park did not respond to a request for an update on the testing and inspection process on Tuesday.

— Brandon Sun