By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

ENVIRONMENT

Alberta announces successful crackdown on invasive mussels after major fines increase

Nov 15, 2024 | 3:13 PM

The Alberta government says there have been a record number of inspections in 2024 with the goal of keeping Alberta — much like it is rat-free — void of zebra and quagga mussels.

These species can rapidly damage waterways and infrastructure, destroy habitats, and cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, the province said in a statement Friday.

To date this year, more than 13,400 inspections of boats and other watercrafts have taken place; that’s the most since 2019. There are also increased fines, expanded stations and more officers, they say.

Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter, who serves as chair of the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, said action to keep invasive mussels “out of our waterways this summer” was successful.

A zebra mussel. (ID 273278714 © Jason Ondreicka | Dreamstime.com)

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“We inspected a record number of boats and other watercraft in 2024 and kept the province zebra and quagga mussel free,” Hunter said.

“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.”

On June 20, fines for failing to stop with a boat at an inspection station increased from $324 to $4,200, the highest in North America. Fines for failing to remove a bilge plug increased to from $180 to $600.

Of the 13,408 boats and watercrafts inspected, 115 were found to be contaminated with invasive mussels, a majority of them travelling from eastern provinces. There were 20 fines issued for not stopping.

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READ: Alberta tightens defenses against invasive mussels with hefty fines

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There are now seven stations and a roving crew, up from five stations in 2023.

Hunter told CHAT News earlier this year that the zebra and quagga mussels have made their way from eastern Canada, all the way to Manitoba.

The MLA added that if they got into Alberta, it would cost about $75 million annually to treat the waterways, plus an unknown amount more for replacing irrigation pipes they clog.

Currently Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Montana and Idaho are mussel free.

Bow River MP Martin Shields was also on the task force, along with a variety of representatives from relevant organizations include the Alberta Water Council, Alberta Wildlife Federation and others.

— with files from Lisa Parent