Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

It's not just biologists or boat owners that should be concerned about AIS. Just a few of the devastating impacts of AIS that may affect YOU include:

• The beaches stink and are dangerous (sharp shells cut my feet & the smell of dead mussels washing up on shore is overwhelming)
• I can’t use my boat
• The wildlife (fish, birds, etc.) are dying
• My business is suffering
• My cabin or cottage has lost significant value
• The water supply and treatment systems are clogged and very costly to repair (increased utility fees)

The threat is at the gates and we need your help to fight it. An infestation in Prince Albert National Park would:

Funds would be diverted from other priorities.

Such as boats, water treatment facilities, water intakes, and other infrastructure along infected water bodies.

Sharp shells would litter the sand and shoreline, causing injuries to people and pets. Invasive mussels could potentially force beach closures.

Zebra and quagga mussels are small bivalves (two shells) that are triangular in shape, and can have light and dark banding, and byssal threads. These threads act like cement, allowing mussels to attach onto hard surfaces.

Zebra and quagga mussels reproduce in massive numbers. One mature female mussel can produce up to a million eggs each year. The eggs hatch into free swimming microscopic larvae that can be transported in standing water in boats and water-related gear. In moist conditions, such as live wells or in wet storage compartments, adult mussels can survive for up to 30 days.

With no natural predators, zebra-mussel densities can reach up to 700,000 mussels per square metre (source: Winnipeg Free Press).

Water is constantly heated to greater than 60° C. The portable units are mounted on a trailer, so they can be moved to where they are needed. Hose fittings to decontaminate a variety of watercraft and compartments are included.

Watercraft used out of province during the 45 day period prior to entering the Park are high risk and require inspection and decontamination by trained Parks Canada staff.

An inspection and decontamination station for watercraft used outside of Saskatchewan in the last 45 days, funded by Parks Canada, is located at the Park Operations Compound, 4 km west of the East Gate.

Hours of operation:

May 12 to September 1, 2025*
Daily, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

*Contact Parks Canada at (306) 479-0007 prior to your visit if you need an inspection and/or decontamination outside of the date range.

A successful fundraising campaign will allow another decontamination unit to be in place and used at additional locations including near the South Gate.