By Sarah Rae

Western provinces join forces to fight aquatic invasive species

Jun 8, 2016 | 9:27 AM

Saskatchewan will be working together will Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory to defend lakes and rivers from invasive species. 

Environment Minister and Battlefords MLA Herb Cox said a coordinated effort against invasive species is essential, because communication between jurisdictions will make for a better defended area as a whole. 

“It just allows us to share information, to share resources and to share expertise…To plot a coordinated effort to keep the aquatic invasive species out of our waterways because if they get in, with the example of zebra and quagga mussels, there is no way that we know of at this time to eradicate them, so our best defense at this time is prevention,” he said. 

Zebra and quagga mussels are prominent examples of invasive species, as they can multiply quickly, making them difficult to control. Cox said they eliminate the good algae, which is what fish and other aquatic creatures eat. This affects the fish population, which then affects sport-fishing. Cox worried a mussel problem in Saskatchewan lakes could affect tourism.

They can also clog irrigation pipes and other transportation pipes and damage hydropower turbines. 

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Saskatchewan has two portable decontamination units, which Cox said 14 conservation officers are trained to use. The officers can respond to any suspected contaminated boats, inspect them and decontaminate if necessary. 

Cox said they already intercepted two boats this spring, before fishing season even started. One of those boats was bought in Ontario but was intercepted coming into Saskatchewan from Alberta, which, he said, shows how much these boats travel and why the provinces need to communicate. 

The responsibility isn’t on government alone, as Cox said he’s emphased educating residents on invasive species. He said the province has seen more awareness recently, with campaigns like the “Clean, Drain, Dry” slogan to remind people to clean their boats. 

“We need people to be aware of that because there’s just so many roadways into our province that we can’t be there to stop every road, we need people to be aware of the danger of these things and to want to have their boat inspected or to clean, drain and dry your own boat,” he said. 

If a resident suspects zebra or quagga mussels in a recently-visited lake, they can contact the government’s invasive species tip line or the nearest environmental office and a conservation officer will inspect. 

“We want to inform people of what they are, how dangerous they can be and from there, then they’re going to take initiative themselves to make sure they don’t bring them in and that’s what the education program’s all about,” he said. 

Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca 

On Twitter: @sarahjeanrae