Aquatic invasive species inspections stop 14 contaminated watercraft

By Your Southwest Media Group

A crew stopping boats being towed into Manitoba decontaminated 14 watercraft at the end of May.

Fisheries and Oceans Department staff and Manitoba conservation officers stopped and inspected 136 westbound vehicles on Highway 1 during the May 29-31 weekend. The vehicles were hauling 167 watercraft or related equipment, and the goal was to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels, a department statement said.

The workers spotted zebra mussels on one unit and instructed the 14 drivers whose boats required decontamination on how to comply with prevention measures in the future, the statement said.

Another 68 watercraft failed the inspection because they were not properly cleaned, drained or dried, it added.

Such invasive species “threaten freshwater ecosystems, infrastructure and the economy by reproducing rapidly, disrupting native habitats, damaging water intake systems and creating costly challenges for industries and local communities,” the statement explained.

“At the start of the boating season, prevention is our strongest tool against aquatic invasive species,” noted Joanne Thompson, federal fisheries minister.

People who violate aquatic invasive species regulations “may face substantial fines under provincial legislation” plus maximum fines of $100,000 for a first offence under the Fisheries Act, the statement warned.