B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service (COS) recently intercepted a watercraft that had an invasive mussel hiding on it.
On April 28, a vehicle transporting the boat from Ontario failed to stop at the inspection station near Elko. The incident was reported to local COS, who then intercepted the boat and escorted it to the station for a proper inspection.
The inspector found invasive mussels during the check and a decontamination was completed on the boat. The operator was issued a violation ticket for failing to stop at the inspection station. Quagga and zebra mussels pose a serious threat to B.C.'s aquatic ecosystems, salmon populations, hydro power stations and other infrastructure facilities. They can clog pipes, cause ecological and economic damage, displace native aquatic plants and wildlife, degrade the environment and affect drinking water quality.
In March, the province announced a funding boost which would see eight permanent mussel inspection stations installed along major entry points along the B.C. border.
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