Highway signage reminding travellers of to clean, drain and dry their watercraft is seen in this photo provided by the province.--Submitted Photo
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Following the threat of invasive mussels being identified this spring, the Government of Alberta conducted a record number of watercraft inspections during the 2024 season.
Reports of these zebra mussels were increasing across Canada and the U.S. earlier in the year, as tiny species can be easily spread through boats and other watercraft. These mussels rapidly damage waterways and infrastructure, destroy habitats and can cause hundreds of millions in damages, says the province.
In response, more than 13,000 boats and watercraft were inspected entering the province, the highest number of inspections since 2019. Along with this came increased fines for expanded inspection stations and officers.
“We stepped up to protect our province and the results speak for themselves. Now that boating season is over, we’re already planning on ways to stop the spread of invasive species and protect our waterways in the years ahead,” sRebecca Schulz, minister of Environment and Protected Areas says in a release. “We’re Zebra and Quagga mussel free, so let’s keep ’em out.”
This year also saw the launch of the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, an increase in inspection stations from five to seven and a roving inspection team. Alberta now has the largest fines in North America, raising them to $4,200 for failing to stop at an open inspection station and $600 for failing to remove a drain plug when transporting a watercraft.
“Alberta took action to keep invasive mussels out of our waterways this summer, and we did so successfully. We inspected a record number of boats and other watercraft in 2024 and kept the province Zebra and Quagga mussel free,” says Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber-Warner and chair of Aquatic Invasive Species task force. “Thank you to all the people who came into the province and did their part by making sure their drain plug is removed and stopping at all mandatory inspection stations.”
Moving forward, the provincial says its task force and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas will explore ways to build on this success to strengthen protection against invasive mussels and other aquatic species in 2025.
