Nearly a quarter of all watercraft inspected in the latest aquatic invasive species (AIS) roadside inspection blitz of the summer failed the inspection as they were not properly cleaned, drained, or dried, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, who worked with the Manitoba government to inspect as many craft as possible.
The latest blitz, the second of the season, took place on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Manitoba-Ontario border, from June 19 to 21. In total, they stopped and inspected a total of 455 eastbound and westbound vehicles transporting 502 watercraft or related equipment.
Of these, they said in a release that 120 (roughly 24 percent) not cleaned, drained, or dried and failed the AIS inspection. Out of those, 13 watercraft required decontamination and one had visible zebra mussels present.
“Preventing the introduction and spread of AIS is essential to safeguarding Canada’s waterways,” said Fisheries and Oceans Canada in a release. “Ensuring watercraft and equipment are properly cleaned, drained, and dried before travelling between waterbodies helps prevent AIS from being introduced to, and established in, new bodies of water.”
“Aquatic invasive species can easily cross provincial borders and Manitoba is proud to continue to work with the federal government to conduct joint inspections of watercraft to help protect our lakes and rivers,” said Mike Moyes, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change Minister “By working together, we’re preserving this precious natural resource for generations to come.”
