Boat being inspected for invasive mussels. Image provided by Government of Alberta
Watercraft entering from high-risk areas must be inspected before launch or face steep penalties.
Boaters entering Alberta from the east or south must now stop for mandatory inspections to help keep invasive mussels out of the province’s lakes and rivers. Starting June 1, all watercraft, including boats, jet skis and kayaks, must be inspected at provincial border stations for zebra and quagga mussels, which have caused widespread damage in other regions of North America.
Alberta remains free of the tiny mollusks, and the government is working to keep it that way. Zebra and quagga mussels are known to clog irrigation pipes, damage pumps, and disrupt water systems that support homes, farms and businesses. “It just takes one invasive mussel to cause millions in damages to our waters and waterways,” said Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Water and Chair of the Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.
Until September 30, all watercraft entering from high-risk areas must be inspected before launch. If a border station is closed, the inspection must still occur within seven days and before using any Alberta water body. Failing to comply can result in fines of up to $4,200. Inspectors will issue proof-of-inspection stickers for compliant watercraft.
In 2024, Alberta completed over 13,400 inspections, the highest since 2019. Fifteen boats were confirmed to be contaminated with invasive mussels, and officials say nearly one in five drivers attempted to bypass inspection stations. The province is responding by increasing staffing, extending station hours, adding mobile decontamination units and deploying more K-9 detection teams.
This year’s budget includes $18 million over five years to expand aquatic invasive species prevention efforts. Alberta is also the first Canadian province to make inspections mandatory for watercraft entering from high-risk regions. Information on station locations and hours is available at alberta.ca/watercraftinspections.
Anyone transporting a watercraft within Alberta must stop at open inspection stations, regardless of their point of entry. “No exceptions and no shortcuts,” said Hunter. “Our inspectors are trained to find where these deceptively small mussels hide, and protecting Alberta’s waters starts with prevention.”
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