First citations issued forzebra mussel contamination

November 1 , 2007

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) enforcement officers have shifted from warnings to issuing citations in an effort to keep Washington’s waters free of an invasive species that threatens native fish and wildlife.

The state’s first citations for illegally transporting zebra mussels were issued earlier this month to two out-of-state trucking companies hauling large boats to the Pacific coast. Live zebra mussels were found attached to boats being transported by a hauler from Ontario, Canada, and another from Iowa.

Zebra mussels have been prohibited in Washington since 2002, but officers are taking stronger action against contaminated vessels now that zebra mussels and a subspecies known as Quagga mussels have shown up in other western states.

Once zebra mussels are introduced to a water body they multiply quickly and threaten native fish and wildlife by consuming available food and smothering other species. They also clog water-intake systems at power plants and other facilities. In southern California, Nevada and Arizona, Quagga mussels, have spread recently.

Intercepting mussel-contaminated vessels at commercial vehicle inspection stations is just a small part of the solution, Cenci noted, because many recreational boats are hauled into the state without inspections. Earlier this year the Washington Legislature expanded authority and funding for random inspections and field checks of all watercraft.

“Any real success in controlling the spread of this invasive species will rely heavily on boat owners taking responsibility for their vessels,” Cenci said. “It’s important that they know what to look for and thoroughly clean their boats.”

For more information on zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/ans/you_can_help.htm