Conservation Officer Service continues to work with the ministry's science experts and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as other federal, provincial and territorial partners to address the situation.Īnyone who finds zebra mussels is asked to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline, toll-free, at 1 877 952-7277 to report their find. The continued co-operation from the industry is commended. Many retailers and distributors have voluntarily pulled the moss balls from their shelves. Investigations have linked some potentially contaminated moss balls to international shipments.Ĭonservation officers have reached out to more than 1,100 pet and aquarium plant stores, aquatic retailers and distributors throughout the province, and have conducted hundreds of on-site inspections to prevent the sale of potentially contaminated moss balls. Several people have reported finding what they believed were zebra mussels in their home aquariums. Most of the moss balls seized were found on the Lower Mainland. Suspected or lab-confirmed contaminated moss balls have been found in Terrace, Invermere, Kamloops, the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Zebra mussels can also hitchhike on moss balls. To date, there has been no reported introduction of live zebra mussels into B.C. Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are a highly invasive species which are commonly spread through ballast water and contaminated recreation equipment. These products, often called “Marimo moss balls,” are a popular ornamental item in aquariums and are also sold as a decorative houseplant.
Invasive zebra mussels have been found in aquarium and water-garden moss balls sold in pet stores and garden centres in B.C. Zebra mussels are a highly invasive species that pose a serious threat to Canada’s aquatic ecosystems, fish populations, hydro power stations and other infrastructure since they multiply rapidly and are extremely difficult to eradicate once they become established in an area. Nearly 3,000 moss balls, which are suspected or confirmed to be contaminated with zebra mussels, have been seized or surrendered to conservation officers as part of widespread efforts to stop the potential spread of the invasive species.
0 kommentar(er)
