Emergency Notice: Invasive Zebra Mussels found in Moss Balls

Invasive Zebra (and/or possibly Quagga) Mussels have been found in aquarium and water garden moss ball products sold in pet stores across the United States. These mussels are highly invasive and their import into Canada is prohibited under the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations. If Zebra Mussels were to become widely established across Canada, the potential additional economic impacts could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars every year.  

As of March 8, there have also been confirmed cases of zebra mussels found in moss ball products sold in Canada, specifically in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. These products are typically sold for use in aquariums to improve water quality.

At a national level, the department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is working tirelessly with other Federal Departments such as CBSA and CFIA, as well as provincial, territorial and international partners. The Government of Canada is committed to the protection of fish and their habitat, including combating aquatic invasive species and the threat they pose to our economy and our environment.

At this time, the Government of Canada is encouraging anyone who may have recently purchased moss ball products in Canada to dispose of them responsibly by doing the following:

1. Destroy

• Place the moss ball into a sealable plastic bag and freeze for at least 24 hours.
• Place the moss ball in boiling water for at least one full minute.

2. Dispose

• Place the moss ball and any of its packaging in a sealed plastic bag and dispose in the trash.

3. Report

• all your local aquatic invasive species authority to report it: https://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/invasive-species-especes-envahissantes-eng.html  

If the moss balls have already been placed in an aquarium, following removal of the moss balls, sterilize the remaining contaminated water in the tank by adding 25ml of bleach per liter of water, let the water sit for at least 15 minutes and then dispose of the sterilized water down a household drain. Additionally, the tank and all accessories (e.g. rocks, decorations, etc.) should be washed with a strong solution of chlorine bleach and water. Alternately, careful use of boiling water may also be effective.

Please do not flush moss balls down the toilet or dispose of them in the compost. Never dump aquarium tank pets, plants or water into any residential water system or waterway.

As per section 26(1) of the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations, a fishery officer can provide you with a written direction requiring you to engage in any activity to treat or destroy an aquatic invasive species, and to prevent the introduction and spread of that species. Failure to comply with the whole or any part of the direction of a fishery officer is a violation of section 30(1) of the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations and may result in punishments described in section 78 of the Fisheries Act.