All indications are that Alberta remains 100 per cent free from zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and other invasive aquatic species.
With funding from Budget 2025, the province aims to keep it that way, especially at a time when reports of those invasive species are on the rise across North America.
According to a release on March 7, Budget 2025 will invest $18.2 million over five years into the province's invasive species inspection, detection, and rapid response program.
"Our province is doing more to fight these invasive species than anywhere else in Canada," said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected areas, via the media release. "These additional inspection stations and K-9 inspection dogs will help us step up protections across Alberta, and we will be announcing even more right before boating season.”
The release notes that these invasive species can cause major damage to waterways, ruin infrastructure, wreck habitats and cost "hundreds of millions in damages" if they are allowed to gain a foothold.
In 2024, the province introduced several actions to protect the province from invasive species, including establishing "the highest fines in North America, launching the Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, expanding inspection stations and inspectors, and advocating to the federal government for increased action."
Over 13,000 boats and other watercraft entering the province were inspected in 2024, the highest number since 2019. 15 of the watercraft inspected did test positive for invasive mussels.
The extra funding will increase the existing inspection program in several ways. Boat and watercraft inspection stations will be increased to 11 in the province, K-9 conservation dog teams will be tripled, and work will be put into the decontamination stations in both Lethbridge and Calgary. Funding will also go towards a decontamination dip tank pilot project and 14 mobile decontamination systems.
"We must keep Alberta 100% invasive mussel-free," said Grant Hunter, chair of the Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species task Force. "That’s why, our province will be continuing to step up our fight to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species that threaten our waterways and livelihoods."
The release notes that around 20 per cent of drivers transporting a watercraft attempt to bypass watercraft inspection stations, and face significant fines if they are caught.
A driver faces a $4,200 fine for failing to stop at an inspection, and $600 for failing to remove a drain plug when a watercraft is being transported.
According to the release, the 2025 watercraft inspection season has a March start.
