Annual Watercraft Pass Survey

Invasive mussels destroy ecosystems, threaten shorelines and can cause hundreds of millions in damaged infrastructure. If introduced here, they could choke out native species, reduce fishing opportunities, make beaches unusable due to razor-sharp shells, clog water systems, and intensify blue-green algae issues. 

Alberta is currently free of zebra, quagga, and golden mussels, but reports are increasing across Canada and the United States. Adult mussels can live outside of water for up to 30 days and their tiny larva can thrive in very small amounts of standing water. These tiny invaders are primarily spread by watercrafts moving from place to place.

If they get established, invasive species could prove very costly for Albertans. Zebra mussels, where currently established, cause up to $500 million in damage annually to power plants, water systems, and industrial water intakes in the Great Lakes region. An economic impact study recently showed that invasive mussels could cost $284 million dollars annually in Lake McGregor alone. Prevention is the most cost-effective approach because once introduced, invasive mussels are nearly impossible to eradicate. 

Alberta is taking the threat of invasive mussels very seriously. In Budget 2025, the government invested $18 million in funding over five years to operate eleven watercraft inspection stations, plus a roving crew, with increased inspectors for extended operating hours, as well as expanding the K-9 detection unit. Alberta also increased the fines for skipping an open watercraft inspection station to $4200 and made inspections mandatory for people travelling into Alberta through the eastern or southern borders. 

The Government of Alberta is exploring every potential tool available. Several states across the United States have successfully implemented passes and fees to help reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species. 

As a result, government is exploring whether implementing an annual watercraft pass is right for Alberta. 

If a potential pass was implemented, watercraft owners could provide information as to the amount, types and movement of watercrafts they use within Alberta. Revenue could support a stronger and more robust invasive species prevention program. Indigenous peoples carrying out Section 35 rights would be exempt from purchasing a proposed annual watercraft pass. 

A watercraft pass is also being considered to help address the following challenges: 

• A lack of information about the types of watercrafts and movement within and into the province. Federal registration of watercraft does not include all types of watercrafts that pose a risk to introducing aquatic invasive species, resulting in a lack of understanding on watercraft risk assessments. Registration of watercraft through an annual pass could help assess entry risk and compliance with watercraft inspection requirements, which remains a significant line of prevention. 
• A misperception of watercraft posing no risk to the spread of aquatic invasive species, especially if only used within Alberta waters. While this may be true for invasive mussels, fish disease and other invasive species can be transferred around the province in a single droplet of water, a clump of mud or a fragment of a plant. The annual pass could create an opportunity to directly educate watercraft owners annually and on legislation changes.
• The pass fee could directly support enhanced watercraft inspections, decontamination, education campaigns, enforcement and rapid response efforts, ensuring consistent and reliable funding for these critical services defending Alberta waters.

More information about the watercraft pass can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/aquatic-invasive-species-annual-watercraft-pass-engagement 

We are exploring this closely but no decisions have been made, and we want to hear from you. This survey will take 5 to 10 minutes to complete and closes on August 25, 2025.