Second Roadside Inspection Blitz Targets Zebra Mussel Spread

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) conducted a second roadside inspection blitz to prevent the spread of Zebra Mussels from August 23 to 25, 2024. The inspections took place along the Trans-Canada Highway at the Manitoba and Ontario border. A total of 451 vehicles transporting watercraft were stopped during this period. Of these, 153 vehicles were found to be non-compliant with clean, drain, dry requirements and had their watercraft and equipment decontaminated. No watercraft were found to have visible Zebra Mussels.

The first inspection blitz occurred in June 2024, where 104 vehicles failed the inspection, and five were found to be transporting Zebra Mussels. Zebra Mussels are an invasive species that have spread to southern Ontario, south and central Manitoba, southern Québec, and New Brunswick since their introduction in the 1980s. They pose significant ecological and economic threats by reproducing quickly and damaging infrastructure.

The DFO emphasizes that prevention, including cleaning, draining, and drying watercraft, is the most effective method to manage aquatic invasive species.