A boat coming in to Saskatchewan contaminated with invasive zebra mussels was intercepted at an inspection station near Moosomin recently. Ministry of Environment aquatic invasive species coordinator, Jeri Geiger, says to protect Saskatchewan’s waters, it’s critically important to check your boat for zebra mussels and other invasive species.

In this instance, Conservation officers determined the boat owner was from Alberta and had recently bought the boat in Manitoba. The boat was taken to Langenburg for decontamination and a warning of non-compliance was issued to the owner for failing to ensure proper decontamination. Geiger says the incident is still under investigation.

Along with risking the accidental introduction of invasive species to the province, the Environment Ministry states that owners who fail to properly decontaminate their watercraft face potential fines and seizure of their boats and vehicles.