Alberta is currently 100 per cent free from zebra mussels, quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species, but reports continue increasing in provinces and states across North America. These species can wreak havoc on waterways and ruin infrastructure, destroy habitats and cause hundreds of millions in damages.
If passed, Budget 2025 will invest $18.2 million over five years to expand Alberta’s aquatic invasive species inspection, detection and rapid response programs. By defending water bodies, ecosystems and infrastructure, Alberta’s government is protecting jobs, local economies and recreational opportunities across the province.
Conservation K-9 Hilo and his handler Cindy Sawchuck inspect a watercraft (Credit: Alberta government)
“Our province is doing more to fight these invasive species than anywhere else in Canada. These additional inspection stations and K-9 inspection dogs will help us step up protections across Alberta, and we will be announcing even more right before boating season.”
“We must keep Alberta 100% invasive mussel free. That’s why, our province will be continuing to step up our fight to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species that threaten our waterways and livelihoods.”
Last year, Alberta took a range of actions that helped to protect the province, including establishing the highest fines in North America, launching the Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, expanding inspection stations and inspectors, and advocating to the federal government for increased action. More than 13,000 boats and watercrafts entering the province were inspected, the most since 2019.
This new funding increases Alberta’s border protections for 2025. It will expand the existing program by increasing the number of inspection stations to 11, tripling the number of K-9 conservation dog and handler teams, and optimizing decontamination stations in Lethbridge and Calgary. The province will also fund a dip tank decontamination pilot project and 14 mobile decontamination systems to improve rapid response.
Alberta’s government will continue working hard to prevent zebra mussels, quagga mussels and other invasive species from getting established here. This includes implementing the Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force recommendations to defend Alberta against invasive mussels and other aquatic invasive species for years to come.
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
Quick facts
- If passed, Budget 2025 funding will include:
- $16.1 million in total operating funding over three years
- $2.1 million in total capital funding over five years
- As of October 31, 2024, 13,408 watercraft inspections were completed – the most since 2019 – and 15 watercraft were confirmed positive for invasive mussels.
- About 20 per cent of drivers transporting watercraft attempted to bypass watercraft inspection stations in Alberta in 2024.
- Alberta’s fines are the highest in North America:
- $4,200 for failing to stop at an open inspection station.
- $600 for failing to remove a drain plug when transporting a watercraft.
- In 2024, about 13 per cent of boats arrived at our inspection stations with the drain plug in place during transport.
- The 2025 watercraft inspection season starts in March.
Related information
Related news
- Clean. Drain. Dry. (Aug. 1, 2024)