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Invasive Mussel Defence Program

The B.C. Invasive Mussel Defence Program’s goal is to prevent the introduction of zebra, quagga and golden mussels into B.C. The program’s prevention efforts are focused on:

  • Inspecting boats
  • Monitoring lakes
  • Educating the public
  • Coordinating actions with neighbouring jurisdictions

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About the Invasive Mussel Defense Program 

The Invasive Mussel Defence Program (IMDP) was created in 2015 and has 3 main components:

  • A watercraft inspection program to detect and respond to high-risk watercraft potentially transporting invasive mussels into B.C. from infested lakes or rivers
  • Lake monitoring to confirm the continued absence of invasive mussels in B.C. waters
  • Outreach and education to educate people and change behaviour by promoting the message of "clean, drain, dry" to the boating community, in collaboration with partners

Provincial law gives the B.C. government authority to take action on invasive mussels. The Controlled Alien Species (CAS) Regulation under the Wildlife Act is the principal law that defines, lists, and affords provisions to regulate invasive mussels in B.C. 

Under the CAS Regulation, prohibitions apply to any mussel listed in Schedule 4 (zebra, quagga and golden mussel). Specifically, it is illegal for a person to: 

  • Possess, breed, ship, or transport prohibited mussels
  • Release prohibited mussels into B.C. waters
  • Allow a prohibited mussel to be released or escape into B.C. waters

Inspectors are trained in the watercraft inspection program and have been designated as auxiliary conservation officers under the Environmental Management Act. This designation provides powers to stop, inspect, search, question, and give decontamination orders.

For more information on the CAS Regulation and invasive mussels, consult: 

2015-2024 Watercraft Inspection Seasons

The provincial Invasive Mussel Defence Program was launched in 2015. The IMDP would like to recognize the support provided by program’s founding partners: the Columbia Basin Trust, the Columbia Power Corporation, BC Hydro and Fortis BC that makes this program possible. The annual program workplan incorporates ongoing feedback from partners, the public and jurisdictions across western Canada and the United States to ensure funding allocations maximize program effectiveness. Results and lessons learned from previous inspections seasons are available in the program reports posted below.

B.C. Invasive Mussel Defence Program Operations from 2015-2024

 

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

 2022 2023 2024

Inspection Stations

Roving

8

10

12

12

9 (2 roving)

7 (2 roving)

 6 (2 roving) 6 (2 roving) 6 (2 roving)

Number of Inspectors

12

32

65

64

64

37

45

 32 43 49

Hours of Operation

5 days per week, 7 hours per day

7 days per week, 10 hours per day

9 stations, 7 days per week, dawn to dusk;
1 station 24 hours

5 stations dawn to dusk;
6 stations 10 hours per day;
1 station 24 hours

4 stations dawn to dusk;
7 stations 10 hours per day;
1 station 24 hours

9 stations dawn to dusk, 10hrs/day

Dawn to dusk; 10 hours per day; 1 station 24 hours

 Dawn to dusk; 10 hours per day; 1 station 24 hours Dawn to dusk; 10 hours per day; 1 station 24 hours Dawn to dusk; 10 hours per day; 1 station 24 hours

Inspection Season

June to October

April to October

April to mid-November

March to late October

March to late October

May 15 to October 25

April to October

 April to October April to October April to October
Watercraft Inspection Findings for the 2015-2024 Seasons of the B.C. Invasive Mussel Defence Program

 

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

 2022 2023 2024

Total Watercraft Inspected

4,350

24,500

35,500

40,700

52,000

29,900

33,300

 20,100 20,900 24,500

Number of People Interacted With

~10,000

~50,000

72,300

78,600

95,000

55,900

61,600

 36,400 39,300 45,400

High Risk Inspections

70

685

2,071

1,652

1,290

158

244

 122 155 199

Mussel Fouled Boats 

15

17

25

25

22

16

17

 13 14 12

Resources

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Program funders

Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power, BC Hydro Power smart, Fortis BC.

The IMDP is funded with support by: 

  • The Columbia Basin Trust
  • The Columbia Power Corporation
  • BC Hydro
  • Fortis BC

Aquatic Invasive Species K9 Unit

In 2017, the program started the Aquatic Invasive Species K9 unit. The first of B.C.’s multipurpose detection dogs was Kilo. The primary handler of Kilo is Sergeant Dan Bartol within the Conservation Officer Service (COS). Kilo is trained to detect invasive mussels, firearms and bear parts, and helps in evidence recovery cases within the Conservation Officer Service. In 2024 after 8 years of service Kilo retired from the AIS K9 unit. The COS is currently training a new detection dog to join the AIS K9 team.

In the fall of 2018, a second multipurpose detection dog, called Major, joined the K9 unit. Major is a German shepherd whose primary handler is Sergeant Denny Chretien. These dogs are valuable tools for detecting invasive mussels on watercraft travelling through and into B.C.

Photographs of the K9 unit, Kilo and Major
Kilo in action Major in action

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:

Conservation Officer Service (COS) crest.