B.C.’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program will for the first time be receiving dedicated and significant funding from the provincial government, the province announced on Friday.

In previous years, the bulk of funding to stop the spread of invasive zebra and quagga mussels into B.C. has come from power utilities and the Columbia Basin Trust rather than the provincial government.

Friday’s announcement is vague on the extent of the B.C. government’s commitment, but it does say the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is providing, “over $1.75 million annually, including a $1 million budget.”

BC Hydro provides $1.25 million; and FortisBC, Columbia Power and the Columbia Basin Trust each provide $250,000. The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture provides $200,000 in annual funding.

“It’s imperative that we keep these destructive species out of our province, and not allow them to threaten our vibrant B.C. waterways,” Environment Minister George Heyman said in a news release. “This is why we will be funding the Invasive Mussel Defence Program on an annual basis, to ensure that necessary and responsive resources are in place to protect our economy, our infrastructure and our sensitive ecosystems.”

B.C. has 12 inspection stations at key entry points to determine whether vessels entering the province are at high risk of carrying the invasive mussels.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service leads enforcement operations.

In 2017, 35,500 watercraft were inspected, 2,071 of which were considered high risk. There were 270 decontamination orders issued last year, as well as 200 quarantine periods.

Last year 25 mussel-fouled watercraft were intercepted. The program received advanced notification from another jurisdiction on 20 of these 25 mussel-fouled watercraft.

Also in 2017, 59 tickets and 86 warnings were issued to motorists for failing to stop at inspection stations.

New watercraft inspection signs are being launched this season, which began April 1, that are designed to improve visibility and awareness for motorists transporting watercraft.

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