Chambers of Commerce in Kamloops, Okanagan demand ban on out-of-province boats

The Chambers of Commerce in several cities throughout the Thompson-Okanagan region are pushing for a temporary ban on out-of-province boats entering BC in an effort to prevent the arrival of invasive mussels.

The business groups from Penticton to Kamloops have sent a letter to both the federal and provincial governments today, Feb. 13, asking for increased spending on mussel detection, according to a joint media release.

More funding would allow round-the-clock monitoring of pleasure boats coming into B.C. from Alberta and the U.S.

“While B.C. provincial staff and Conservation Officers do good work through the Invasive Mussel Defence Program (IMDP), serious gaps remain," the Chambers said in the letter. "Only a complete moratorium prior to establishing and maintaining round-the-clock monitoring will protect the fresh waters of our still mussel-free province from this invasive scourge.”

Concerns have increased since invasive mussels were found in waters in Idaho, just an 11-hour drive from the BC border. 

The proposed boat moratorium would last at least until Idaho water treatments are assessed.

“This scourge has already ruined many freshwater lakes and rivers in Canada, and is currently irreversible. We have a good chance to stop it before it becomes established in our beautiful province,” Dan Price, Chair of the Kelowna Chamber, said in the release.

Between May and December 2023, the invasive mussel program intercepted 155 watercraft entering B.C. that were identified as high-risk for mussels and 14 of the boats were confirmed to be carrying the mussels, the release said. More than a third of the intercepted boats were heading to the Okanagan and Thompson-Nicola region.

According to the Chamber’s letter, the program’s budget has been severely cut in recent years.

Nicole Clark, president of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber, said chamber members are very concerned about the negative impact invasive mussels could have on the Okanagan's fresh water.

“Tourists and locals love our beaches and our lakes,” Clark said in the release. “We can’t stand by and lose these irreplaceable resources.”

Lake Country Mayor and Okanagan Basin Water Board chair Blair Ireland said they've been calling for more support for more than a decade, but now the issue has reached critical importance.

“We are thankful for the support of Thompson-Okanagan chambers, and the many other voices that have joined us in our call to the federal and B.C. governments to commit to funding and legislation that will properly protect B.C. from invasive mussels,” Ireland said in the release.

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