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Bringing your boat to B.C.

If you’re bringing your boat from out-of-province, contact the provincial program at COS.Aquatic.Invasive.Species@gov.bc.ca to determine if your boat is high-risk and should be decontaminated for possible invasive mussels before launching it in B.C. waters. Do not launch the boat into any B.C. waters until you have received instruction from a B.C. Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector. 

Contact the provincial program

Our inspection stations will be stopping and inspecting all boats entering the province. You can reduce your travel time by notifying us in advance.

Write to us with these details:

  • Where the boat is coming from 
  • Destination location
  • Contact information (either owner, hauler, driver or destination location)
  • Type of boat

Watercraft decontaminations are free and provincial inspectors can inspect watercraft on arrival to ensure they are clean before launching in B.C. waters. Your advance notification will help streamline this process.

If you are transporting a watercraft in B.C., you must stop and report at all open invasive mussel inspection stations along your travel route.

Pull the plug! It’s the law in B.C.

It is illegal to transport watercraft—including boats, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards—or water-related equipment or aircraft on land, unless all drainage holes, valves or other devices used to drain water are left open.

  • Alternatively, a boat can be transported in an inverted manner if it allows the interior of the boat to be drained. This includes draining any ballast tanks, bilge areas or compartments

Why is this important? While B.C. is currently free of invasive mussels, Whirling Disease has been detected in B.C.

  • To help stop the spread of whirling disease and invasive mussels before moving a boat or any equipment between water bodies, be sure to Clean, Drain, Dry

Transporting live or dead zebra, quagga or golden mussels into B.C. is a provincial offence.

Help us keep B.C. waterways clear of invasive mussels. Any suspected, transport, possession, sale or release of invasive mussels should be reported immediately to the Conservation Officer Services Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP): 1-877-952-7277.

Low risk watercraft

  • Watercraft that have only been used within B.C. or other non-contaminated provinces or states and are found to be clean, drain, dry and free of mud, debris, plants or any other aquatic invasive species (AIS). Zebra, quagga and golden mussels have not been detected in B.C. For detections in the U.S. consult:
  • To prevent the spread of other AIS within B.C. boaters should practice Clean, Drain, Dry

High risk watercraft

  • Any watercraft or equipment that has been launched in any waters of a province or state known or suspected of having zebra, quagga or golden mussels in the past 30 days (access the US Geological Survey map for current North American distribution)
  • Any watercraft or equipment that is coming or is registered to a state or province that has zebra, quagga or golden mussel infestations and is not clean, and to the extent practical, drained and dry
  • Any watercraft that is dirty, crusty or slimy with the potential risk of transporting other AIS

To learn more about the invasive Golden Mussel, consult:

To learn more about invasive freshwater zebra and quagga mussels: 

For more information about whirling disease, visit:

Aquatic invasive species resources from other jurisdictions:

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