Whereas the Province of British Columbia has acknowledged the risk posed by invasive mussels to BC water bodies with the establishment of the BC Invasive Mussel Defense Program and more active involvement with Pacific NorthWest Economic Region; And whereas British Columbia has added Schedule 4 to the BC Wildlife Act Regulation, which provides that zebra and quagga mussels are banned alive and dead from possession, breeding, release, and transportation in British Columbia; And whereas British Columbia has established a roving highway inspection station program at 30 locations to control entry of watercraft into British Columbia from the United States and Alberta; And whereas, by their nature, this is unlikely to capture all invasive mussels; Therefore be it resolved that the Province of British Columbia restrict all non-BC registered watercraft from entering into British Columbia, and any watercraft registered in British Columbia, that leave the province, or are purchased by BC residents from outside BC require a 30 day quarantine, Ministry approved inspection andor decontamination prior to being allowed to launch in any British Columbia waterbody.
Ministry of Environment The Province of BC does not register watercraft. Watercraft powered by an engine of 10 horsepower or greater are required to have a Pleasure Craft License or a Vessel Registration from Transport Canada. Watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, row boats, surf boards, paddle boards, etc., are not required to be licensed or registered by Transport Canada, but are required to comply with watercraft inspection stations. The Province of BC is not considering a zero tolerance policy for out-of-province watercraft in BC waters. Our program is focusing on locations to intercept boats coming from high-risk infested jurisdictions from the east and the south. Also, we are in a position to hand out significant fines for non-compliance, as well as decontamination and quarantine orders issued by our boat inspectors. The Province is also issuing tickets to motorists who fail to stop at the mandatory watercraft inspection stations, and exceptions will not be made for ocean-going watercraft. There has been substantive effort between jurisdictions to establish effective communication lines, coordinate our efforts, and support each other. This is facilitated through both formal and informal inter-jurisdictional agreements that the Province has signed onto. Coordinated efforts to create a perimeter defence around Western Canada and the Columbia Basin are a key component of the provinces strategy. For example, BC receives notification from other jurisdictions of high risk watercraft that have been through their inspection station and are destined for BC. On March 30, 2016, the Premier announced a greatly expanded Invasive Mussel Defence Program that includes eight permanent inspection stations and 32 inspectors with auxiliary Conservation Officer status. The inspection station sites are strategically located at traffic pinch-points areas of traffic convergence for several border crossings close to major border crossings into B.C and the stations were operational from April 1st to SeptemberOctober 2016. These sites where chosen based on the experience from the 2015 pilot program that determined the amount of traffic coming over the border and the destinations of those with watercraft. Inspectors provide seven day-a-week 10 hourday coverage of BCs eastern and southern borders and coordinate closely with the Canada Border Services Agency to cover the International border. The inspection stations have the ability to be mobile to provide extended coverage throughout the province, especially on popular, high-traffic routes, and answer calls to decontaminate watercraft in different areas of the province. Annual funding of two million dollars has been provided by BC Hydro, the Columbia Basin Trust, Fortis BC and Columbia Power Corporation in support of this important program. During the 2016 season, just over 24,500 watercraft were inspected, of which 684 watercraft were identified as coming from a high-risk province or state. Of the total watercraft inspected, 17 were confirmed to have adult invasive mussels. Of the mussel fouled boats 14 82 were coming from Ontario, 1 from Lake Winnipeg 6, Manitoba, 1 from Lake Michigan 6, and 1 from Lake Mead, Nevada 6. Of the 17 mussel fouled boats, 10 had been through an inspection station in another jurisdiction and BC received advanced notification of their arrival. This highlights the efficacy and importance of the joint, perimeter defence approach to protecting the western provinces and states from these invasive mussels. During the 2016 season it is estimated that the Provincial Inspectors interacted with approximately 50,000 people to promote the message of Clean, Drain, Dry and raise awareness about invasive zebra and quagga mussels and other Aquatic Invasive Species.