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An Update on the Battle with Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Manitoba. Candace Parks Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist Wildlife and Fisheries Branch Department of Sustainable Development Presentation Overview Stop the Spread MB’s AIS Unit Legislation and AIS concerns – zebra mussels Prevention What partnerships are needed most? And how to establish them? Monitoring Early Detection and Response Control and Management Call to Action Stop the Spread • Aquatic invasive species (AIS) can be stopped. • The spread of AIS is preventable. • Your role: – Know and follow the law – Shared responsibility – Collective action – Interrupt the pathway of spread Pathways of Spread • Inter-connecting waterways. • Un-cleaned fishing equipment and gear. • Release of live bait. • Live food trade. • Internet sales. • Float planes. • Legal and illegal introductions. • Migration of wildlife. • Release of aquarium or water garden, water, pets or plants. • Overland movement of recreational watercraft (e.g., canoes, PWC etc) and water-based equipment. Legislation Prevention AIS Program AIS Monitoring Early Detection & Rapid Response Management & Control Legislation Highlights of Provincial AIS Legislation: The Gov’t of MB is the responsible authority on AIS in Manitoba – both provincially and federally. Under The Water Protection Act: • List of AIS (Schedule A) (includes over 80 fish species, 24 invertebrates, 21 plants and 2 alga). • Clean, Drain, Dry , Dispose and if necessary, Decontaminate is the law. • Stopping at watercraft inspection stations is a legal requirement. • More than just watercraft users – includes water-related equipment, aircraft, ORVs, water garden and aquarium trade and bait harvesters and dealers. • Ticketable fines for AIS infractions are in effect; range between $170 to $2,500 Prohibitions in MB A person must not: • possess, • bring into Manitoba (or cause it to be brought into MB), • deposit or release (or cause it to deposited or released in MB), or • transport a member of AIS in Manitoba. • Schedule A outlines 128 designated AIS. Concerns for MB • Invasive (Asian) Carp – In neighbouring Missouri and Upper Mississippi river basins (ND and MN). – Live bait. • Quagga Mussels – In neighbouring river basins (SD and MN). • Whirling Disease (not listed as an AIS) – Disease was detected in Alberta in Johnson Lake in Banff National Park in August 2016. – Interconnected water bodies. AIS currently in Manitoba • Fish: 3 • Invertebrates: 5 • Plants & algae: 7 • Fish parasites: 2 TOTAL 17 AIS in Manitoba – PROHIBITED SPECIES • Spiny Waterflea – Winnipeg River, Lake Winnipeg, Playgreen Lake – Zooplankton predator, capable of rapid expansion • Rusty Crayfish – Falcon Lake, Birch River (Prawda), Wpg River(?) – Highly aggressive, severely reduces aquatic plants – Illegal to possess any crayfish • Black Algae – White Lake, Betula Lake, Jessica Lake in the Whiteshell (Whiteshell Control Zone) – Forms dense mats and shades out other species • Invasive Phragmities – Localized presence in southern MB – Grows very quickly and shades out native species Zebra Mussels Adult – Size of a sesame seed to ~3 cm long. – Grow in clusters, firmly attach to submerged surfaces. – Large reproductive and filter feeding and capabilities. Larval Stage (Veliger) – free-floating and microscopic. No predators or diseases from native range. PROHIBITED SPECIES - dead or alive. • Increased maintenance costs for Impacts power generating stations, water treatment plants, water delivery infrastructures, & communities • Damage to native fisheries. • Change in aquatic ecosystem • Decreased tourism and recreational income. • Decrease waterfront property values and increased taxes. • Reduced recreational potential of beaches • Long-lasting/generational impacts Zebra Mussel invaded and suspect water bodies* *Shoal Lake Prevention Watercraft Inspection Objective: To prevent and slow the spread of AIS from invaded water bodies within MB to non-invaded water bodies. Focus: ZM Achieved by: – Educating the public – Demonstrating how CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY properly watercraft and water-related equipment – Conduct watercraft inspections – Performing decontaminations Prevention Watercraft Inspection 2019 Watercraft Inspection Summary The Pas Strategic highway “pinch- Grand Rapids points” to intercept traffic coming from invaded water Swan River bodies and high-volume boat launches. Eriksdale Selkirk Headingley Prevention Watercraft Inspection 2019 Watercraft Inspection Summary (May-Aug) Program runs from May to Oct with main stations* running 7 days/wk Inspect. Decon. % Decons. (Decon./Inspect.) Selkirk Park* 4,494 510 11.0% Headingley* 1,775 166 9.5% Eriksdale 2,173 211 9.7% Grand Rapids* 1,484 479 32.0% Swan River 886 26 3.0% The Pas* 2,053 117 5.7% TOTAL 12,865 1,509 12.0% Prevention Partnerships • International & National: Legislation, working with neighbours. • Provincial: Comprehensive program including strong legislation, public education and outreach, watercraft inspection program, partnership program etc • Regional/ Municipal: public education and outreach, incorporating procedures and protocols • Local: Local user group involvement, informing friends, family and colleagues. Prevention Partnerships NATIONAL: Inter-Provincial-Territorial Agreement for the Coordinated Defence Against Invasive Species Prevention Partnerships International & National: Legislation, working with neighbours. Provincial: Comprehensive program including strong legislation, public education and outreach (needs improvement), watercraft inspection program, partnership program etc. • Regional/ Municipal: public education and outreach, incorporating procedures and protocols – this is getting better… • Local: Local user group involvement, informing friends, family and colleagues. A challenge. Prevention Partnerships Level I Inspection Training Outcome: To build personal capacity and broader awareness of what individuals, communities and smaller organizations can do enhance efforts to stop the introduction and spread of AIS by: – identifying possible risks and AIS, and – ensuring compliance with the law – talk the talk and be comfortable to do the walk by building a larger foundation…then show others! Monitoring 2019 Summer Summary Goal: to understand the profile of AIS in Manitoba water bodies. The results inform other program pillars. • Focus: Zebra Mussels – (SWF) • Target: Veligers and recently settled stages • Methods: water samples, ZM eDNA, substrate samplers Results: • Sampled 95 water bodies (un-invaded & higher risk) with the help of a range of agencies; some sample results pending. • More stations in the north basin of Lk Wpg and outlet into the Nelson River. Early Detection & Response • Suspect adult zebra mussel found in Singush Lake. • Initiated a containment plan in 2017; lake closed to day-use boaters. • Unsure if we contaminated the sample itself. Management & Control: Part I • Control options must be approved by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). • Inter-departmental committee that examines pesticide registration options for Manitoba. • Manitoba obtained blanket authorization from PMRA for the use of chlorine at all Manitoba drinking water intake structures subject to certain conditions. – Federal jurisdiction – Indigenous Services Canada – Provincial jurisdiction – The Office of Drinking Water Management & Control: Part 2 • Work directly with communities on how they can adapt to zebra mussels by: – protect of watercraft, water-related equipment, infrastructure from fouling – Preventing their introduction to new water bodies. Call to Action Let’s join forces to build capacity to protect Manitoba’s water bodies from AIS. For more information: Email: [email protected] Toll free: 1-87-STOP AIS-0 Click: Manitoba.ca/StopAIS Thank you! .