Parks Canada is seeking the assistance of the public in halting the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). The AIS project coordinator at Prince Albert National Park (PANP), Sarah Mitchell, emphasized that preventing the propagation of aquatic invasive species is a collective responsibility.
To prevent the infiltration of unwanted species, all watercraft entering the waters of Prince Albert National Park must possess an AIS certification permit and compliance sticker. If a boat has been outside the province in the past 45 days, it is mandatory for it to undergo inspection and decontamination by Parks Canada personnel at an inspection station, a protocol that was initiated in 2025.
The regulations have been put in place to prevent invasive mussels, specifically zebra and quagga mussels, from entering the park’s water systems. These mussels’ larvae, known as veligers, are minuscule and not visible to the naked eye. A single female zebra mussel can produce around 1 million eggs annually.
Invasive mussels present substantial economic risks to various sectors in Saskatchewan, including irrigation, water power generation, and municipal and industrial water usage. Recently, invasive mussel veligers were discovered in the Lake of the Prairies, located approximately 67 kilometers east of Yorkton, as announced by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment on July 3.
Efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species involve rigorous inspections at the PANP inspection station, where watercraft are examined for organic matter like mud, sand, and plants that may harbor AIS. Parks Canada staff utilize a pressure washer with water heated to 50 to 60 degrees Celsius to eliminate any potential aquatic invasive species.
Increased educational initiatives have contributed to enhanced compliance among the public. The AIS certification process applies to a variety of watercraft, including canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, wind surfboards, inflatable boats, and rafts. It is essential to decontaminate any equipment that has come into contact with water to prevent the spread of AIS.
Failure to adhere to AIS regulations may result in fines of up to $25,000 under federal AIS guidelines. Parks Canada is in the process of developing a comprehensive long-term AIS plan in collaboration with Indigenous nations, community partners, and regional stakeholders to safeguard park waters while enhancing visitor experiences.
Amidst these efforts, PANP has ramped up roving AIS inspections and staff presence at boat launches. In the previous year, PANP permitted 7,000 to 9,000 watercraft and conducted 160 decontaminations of high-risk watercraft.
Invasive mussels have been previously identified in Manitoba and the southern United States. Zebra mussels were found in Clear Lake at Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba in 2023. Following this, Parks Canada lifted a ban on watercraft from Clear Lake, which had been imposed in 2025 to prevent the spread of mussels.
Apart from mussels, invasive species like flowering rush and Prussian carp also pose a threat to native species in Saskatchewan. Prince Albert National Park’s watercraft decontamination station near the operations center is a crucial component of the ongoing efforts to combat aquatic invasive species.
