Manitoba spending nearly $500K to help stop spread of zebra mussels

The Province of Manitoba is spending more than half a million dollars to fight against the spread of aquatic invasive species.

The Manitoba government is looking to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) with more than $500,000 in funding.

“These species don’t just change the ecosystems of our rivers and lakes, they change how we experience them,” said Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes at a news conference in Lockport, Man.

“They mess with the waters that so many of us rely on for fishing, boating or simply enjoying nature, and that affects the way we connect to the land and to the waters.”

On Wednesday, the province announced $410,000 for the new Manitoba Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund, which will be used to deliver AIS prevention resources across the province. The fund will also be used to give money to governments, organizations, and water-user groups to create AIS prevention programs and projects.

In addition to this new fund, the government is investing $130,000 in equipment dedicated to AIS mitigation efforts.

Moyes noted that aquatic invasive species damage boats, clog water intakes, and cost the province millions of dollars every year, adding that zebra mussels have been a particularly big issue in Manitoba.

Earlier in the year, Parks Canada reported the eradication of zebra mussels in Clear Lake is not feasible.

“At the end of the day, preventing the spread of AIS is something we can do,” he said.

“Most of the time it’s human-caused, but the good news is that it’s preventable.”

The province is reminding Manitobans to clean, drain and dry watercraft and water-related equipment. Anglers are also being reminded it’s illegal to import live bait into Manitoba.

Later in the spring, Manitoba is setting up watercraft inspection stations throughout the province to help with compliance with AIS requirements. Anyone transporting watercraft over land is required to stop at all inspection stations along their route.