B.C. conservation service seizes nearly 3,000 invasive mussel infested moss balls

A widespread effort to stop the spread of an invasive species in B.C. has resulted in the seizure or surrender of nearly 3,000 suspected or confirmed zebra mussel infested moss balls.

The water-garden moss balls, sold in pet stores and garden centres across the province and the country have recently been found to contain, or are suspected of containing, the invasive zebra mussels.

The products are known as Marimo moss balls and are sold as ornamental items in aquariums, according to Ministry of Environment media release. They are also sold as decorative houseplants.

Zebra mussels are considered highly invasive and pose a threat to B.C.’s aquatic ecosystems.

Suspected and contaminated moss balls have been found in Terrace, Invermere, Kamloops, the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island, the ministry said.

Conservation officers have reached out to more than 1,100 pet and aquarium plant stores, aquatic retailers and distributors as well as conducting hundreds of on-site inspections to prevent the sale of contaminated moss balls.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service continues to work with the ministry’s science experts and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Anyone finding zebra mussels is asked to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

To date, there has been no reported introductions of live zebra mussels into B.C. lakes or waterways.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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