Efforts continue to keep Zebra Mussels out of Manitoba and the rest of Western Canada, following their discovery late last year in Clear Lake.
It’s illegal to possess, transport or release zebra mussels in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, or British Columbia, and people who use watercraft in the region are urged to do their part and make sure their equipment is properly cleaned and dried.
Over the weekend of August 23rd to 25th, Conservation officers and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada completed a blitz of roadside boat checks, stopping 451 vehicles carrying watercraft between the Manitoba and Ontario border.
While none of those watercraft contained visible mussels, a total of 153 had improperly cleaned or drained equipment.
It was the second blitz done this summer by federal officials.
In June, officials found a total of 104 watercraft or equipment that wasn’t clean, drained, or dry, and failed an inspection.
Five of those vehicles were carrying a boat or watercraft with visible zebra mussels.
