The Ministry of Environment's aquatic invasive species monitoring program has released a statement saying there were no invasive mussels detected in Saskatchewan last year.

The team sampled 125 waterbodies and did not find any evidence of zebra and quagga mussels - which, if introduced, could severely affect aquatic habitat, fisheries, valuable recreational resources, and important infrastructure for irrigation, power generation, and municipal water supplies.

"Once again, our surveys have shown the effectiveness of prevention activities in protecting Saskatchewan’s lakes and rivers from invasive species threats," Environment Minister Warren Kaeding said. "Our comprehensive provincial strategy includes monitoring, public awareness, and education, as well as roadside watercraft inspections and decontamination, all important components of the program."

In 2020, the ministry inspected 911 watercraft and discovered nine contaminated with invasive species. A total of 164 were decontaminated.

Aquatic invasive species have been detected in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and 34 states including Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota.