Submitted

The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) is alerting the region to the recent detection of zebra mussels in aquarium moss balls in Washington, USA. 

Vigilance and proactive measures are needed to protect local ecosystems; invasive mussels can cause severe damage to aquatic environments and result in significant economic costs.

The discovery was made on August 5 and promptly reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife by an aquarium company. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing risk posed by invasive mussels, which are not established in Washington or British Columbia. 

The potential introduction of zebra mussels into BC is estimated to cost between $64 million to $129 million annually. The Columbia-Shuswap region, known for its beautiful lakes and rich biodiversity, is at risk. 

Zebra mussels pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems, salmon populations, hydro power stations, and other infrastructure. They reproduce rapidly and attach themselves to hard surfaces, making them extremely difficult to eradicate once established.

The CSISS is urging all aquarium owners to take the following actions to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels.

• If you have purchased aquarium moss balls or other related equipment in the past year, carefully inspect them for signs of zebra mussels.

• Properly dispose of contaminated moss balls by placing them into a sealable plastic bag and freezing them for 24 hours, or put the moss ball in boiling water for one minute. After this, dispose of the moss ball and its packaging in a sealed plastic bag in the trash. Do not dispose of moss balls or aquarium water down the toilet or in the compost. 

For more information on moss ball disposal please visit: www.gov.bc.ca/invasivemussels

• Report sightings. If you observe any signs of zebra mussels, report them immediately to the BC Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line 1-877-952-RAPP (7277) or using the app which can be downloaded from www.gov.bc.ca/invasivespecies.

• Never dump aquarium tank pets, plants, or water into any residential water system or waterway.