Latest news with #zebramussels
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Americans warned not to eat invasive mussel species
An invasive species of mussels has found its way to Wyoming, but seafood enthusiasts are being warned to steer clear or risk dangerous consequences. More than 500,000 zebra mussels were discovered on a boat lift by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and, following swift and aggressive action to eradicate them, officials have warned Americans to avoid consuming them. In early May, aquatic invasive species specialists worked with the WGFD Casper office to rid more than half a million of the mussels off of a boat that had been at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area in South Dakota, Cowboy State Daily reported. Specialist's scalded and killed the mussels with hot water and took every effort to ensure no zebra mussel DNA survived. The distinct looking mussel, with tan stripes, more closely biologically resembles that of a clam, but their functions remain similar. Zebra mussels are filter feeders, according to the National Park Service, and siphon particles of plankton from the water. Yet, their fast reproduction rates and insatiable appetite can cause harm to waters and its native species if infestation is not prevented. Zebra mussels of a large population can quickly eradicate almost all floating particles from a body of water, robbing food from species that feed on plankton and exposing prey in the clearer waters. Once an infestation occurs, there is little to be done, therefore officials focus heavily on preventative action to avoid infested waters. Cheyenne chef Petrina Peart told Cowboy State Daily: 'Zebra mussels can be cooked and consumed, but I don't think it'll be worth the potential digestive issues that may follow.' Their constant water filtration typically leads to their harboring a lot of harmful bacteria, which is true for all mussels. 'Freshwater mussels consume plankton and with it any toxins that are present in the water. They make for great water filtration but may not make for a great Amuse Bouche.' When cooking mussels, wine is often used to help kill off any harmful bacteria that may be present. 'Mussels have to be harvested from clean and uncontaminated waters and cooked thoroughly,' Peart said. 'Lots of butter, lemon and fresh herbs couldn't hurt, but there could still be potentially harmful bacteria. Wine is used in mussel recipes to help kill bacteria. It also happens to be delicious.' Some invasive mussel species infestations were solved through consumption, such as the green iguana species. 'The green iguana is an invasive species in the Cayman Islands,' Peart told the outlet. 'They have created dishes and cuisine around the efforts to eradicate destructive invasive iguana species by turning them into something mainstream.' And while the solution worked well, zebra mussels are also much smaller than green iguanas. The largest zebra mussel only reaches around two inches long at most. Peart can see how 'from a problem solving standpoint,' turning to consuming zebra mussels could help eradicate them, but doesn't necessarily think that means it's a good idea. 'I won't lie - I skipped the iguana soup while in the Cayman Islands, and I'll probably skip the zebra mussels too,' she said, with no plans to add them to her menu.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
MP calls on Parks Canada to explain Clear Lake motorized boat ban
The member of parliament for Riding Mountain is calling on Parks Canada to explain its decision for a motorized watercraft ban on Clear Lake. On Thursday, MP Dan Mazier wrote a letter to the Riding Mountain field unit superintendent, asking Parks Canada to hold a public meeting to clarify its reasoning for the ban. 'The decision to impose a ban just before the May long weekend with inadequate notice, consultation, or clear justification, has blindsided the community and undermined months of preparation,' the letter states, adding that the lack of transparency has fueled public frustration. Mazier's letter goes on to say that Parks Canada was still telling people that motorized watercraft would be allowed on Clear Lake as recently as May 12. 'Parks Canada is a public agency. It is accountable to the people it serves,' it says. 'Yet increasingly, the public feels shut out of decisions that deeply affect their lives and livelihoods. That must change.' Mazier's plea comes after Parks Canada announced last week that only non-motorized watercraft will be permitted on the lake in 2025 in an effort to stop the spread of zebra mussels. In a statement, a spokesperson for Riding Mountain National Park said they recognize the important place Clear Lake holds in the hearts of many Manitobans, as well as the strong connection that Indigenous communities have to the lake. The spokesperson notes that last summer Clear Lake was closed to all watercrafts, which drew negative reactions from residents and business owners who were concerned it would stop people from visiting. However, the park notes, 2024 saw Riding Mountain's busiest year since 2021, with 347,418 visitors. 'Parks Canada understands this change is disappointing to some, especially those who complied with mandatory inspections and tagging in previous years,' the statement says. 'Parks Canada is implementing these changes in an effort to continue protecting Clear Lake so that its health and those of downstream waterbodies can be maintained and visitors and residents can continue to enjoy them in the future.' Mazier's full letter can be found online.
CTV News
20-05-2025
- CTV News
Petition calling to allow motorized boats on Clear Lake garners thousands of signatures
Due to the ongoing zebra mussel problem, motorboats are banned on Clear Lake this summer. A petition calling on Riding Mountain National Park to allow motorized watercraft on Clear Lake this summer has garnered more than 2,000 signatures. The petition, which is available on says park officials previously said motorized boating would be back for the 2025 season. However, shortly before the May long weekend, Parks Canada announced this would not be the case because of zebra mussels. 'This blindsided visitors and devastated local businesses that rely on boating tourism,' the petition says. 'If zebra mussels are a concern, the solution is inspection and education—not a full ban that punishes responsible users.' Now the petition is calling on Riding Mountain National Park and Parks Canada to keep its original commitment and implement 'fair and proven' measures to manage zebra mussels. 'We're not asking for excuses. We're asking for action,' the petition states. This petition comes after Parks Canada announced that it will continue to restrict motorized watercraft on the lake. The government says it's taking a precautionary approach to protect the health of Clear Lake and other nearby bodies of water and reduce the spread of zebra mussels.
CBC
18-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Motorized watercraft banned on Clear Lake in 'disappointing journey' to fight zebra mussels
Social Sharing Parks Canada is banning the use of motorized watercraft on Clear Lake this year in what it hopes will be an attempt to curtail the spread of zebra mussels. While the ban is causing turmoil for businesses, a First Nation in the area sees it as a sign of hope in a "disappointing journey" to fight the invasive species. The federal agency announced in a Friday bulletin it had made the "difficult decision" to impose the restriction for a second time since last year"to protect the health of Clear Lake" after zebra mussels were first detected in the lake in November 2023. Under the restriction, non-motorized watercraft — including kayaks, canoes and inflatables — can still operate in Riding Mountain National Park under certain conditions, which include an annual permit, limitations on which bodies of water are used, an inspection and a cleaning protocol. "We're happy with Parks Canada's decision," said James Plewak, former chief of the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, which borders the northwest corner of the lake. Plewak, who is also a senior official with a coalition of seven First Nations with interests in Riding Mountain National Park, said it has been a "disappointing journey" since the invasive species was first discovered. Parks Canada tried to contain zebra mussels by setting a two-kilometre underwater curtain at Boat Cove near Wasagaming last summer — but it dislodged just days after installation was completed. Months later, hundreds of live juvenile zebra mussels were found attached to docks and other structures near the east end of Clear Lake, indicating their spread was not isolated to the area where they had been originally found. Earlier this year Park Canada said the full extent of where the zebra mussels have spread is yet unknown, but eradicating them would require for the entire population to be identified, isolated and contained from the rest of the lake. Plewak is concerned that if zebra mussels migrate to shallower parts of the lake, they might distribute faster and trickle into outlets that flow into the Little Saskatchewan River and downstream through several communities. "The decision is based upon erring on the side of caution," he said. While Parks Canada has the jurisdiction to issue bans on Clear Lake, First Nations have a treaty right over Riding Mountain National Park, Plewak said. "We have a different level of responsibility towards the lake," he said. "Parks Canada made a responsible decision there and the First Nation is in support of it." Ban stands to 'ruin' business Kelsey Connor, who has been operating the Clear Lake Marina and the Martese tour boat out of Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park since 2015, said Parks Canada's decision is putting into question whether or not his business will cease to exist. "At the moment … I think that our business is ruined," he told CBC. The ban came as a surprise to Connor. He said Parks Canada had indicated to him this summer it would be "business as usual" on the lake, so the marina had already hired staff for the upcoming months in hopes of bouncing back from last year's restrictions. Connor learned of the decision an hour before the federal agency made it public on Friday, coming as a "complete shock" to him. "We trusted Parks Canada … and we felt obligated to hold up our end of the bargain and provide some services for visitors," he said. "We've only been positive contributors to the zebra mussel fight." The watercraft operated by Connor's marina pose no risk of introducing invasive species, he said, arguing using it at the capacity his company does could help with the problem. "I don't know why this is happening … It's hard to believe that it's not permanent because we just can't operate a business like this." Parks Canada said is taking on comprehensive research this year to determine "how motorized watercraft affect ecological, socioeconomic and cultural components of Clear Lake." But the federal agency said the approach it's taking is a balancing act between helping protect all water bodies in Riding Mountain National Park and ensuring lake users can resume the activities they missed last year, after similar bans on watercrafts were imposed. Kyle Bazylo, member of the Clear Lake Cabin Owners' Association, said the government had a chance of halting the spread of zebra mussels when they were first discovered on the water, but "they dropped the ball from Day 1." Now there is little to no possibility of slowing it down, he said, and given how scattered zebra mussels are already on the lake, he thought Parks Canada should "admit defeat" and learn how to live with them. "I don't know why they're playing this game," he said. "The lack of guidance and management … is frustrating." Bazylo said the watercraft ban is "a terrible decision" that he believes could also affect property values if people's worries lead them to sell off their cottages. "Money [was] wasted by poor decision-making, and there's no accountability, and there should be some kind of accountability here," he said.
CBC
16-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Alberta launches watercraft inspections to stop invasive species from crossing borders
In an effort to keep invasive zebra and quagga mussels out of the province, Alberta is instituting mandatory inspections of boats, jet skis, kayaks and other watercraft coming in across the province's southern or eastern borders, starting June 1.
