Province flexing muscles against mussels

OKANAGAN – Boaters throughout the Okanagan are still being warned to keep an eye out for mussels.

Specifically, the invasive quagga and zebra mussels threatening B.C’s aquatic ecosystems, salmon populations, hydro power stations and other infrastructure facilities.

The Invasive Mussel Defence Program staffs 32 inspectors who work seven days a week, 10 hours a day, at eight permanent inspection stations at B.C. borders.

So far this year, 6,100 watercraft have been inspected for invasive mussels in B.C. Of those, 240 were watercraft identified as coming from a high risk area and eight were confirmed to be carrying invasive mussels. Officers issued 45 decontamination orders to watercraft owners.

"It's great to see the work being done to protect the waterways in Osoyoos and across the Okanagan from invasive mussels,” Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson says in a release.

Currently B.C. is free from invasive quagga and zebra mussels and boaters are reminded to practice 'clean, drain and dry' to keep it that way.

To report a mussel affected boat call the B.C. Conservation Offer Services’ Report All Poachers and Polluters at 1-877-952-7277.

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