Photo: Contributed

The Okanagan Basin Water Board is pushing for all incoming watercraft to be inspected before launching in B.C. waters.

The board recently reviewed an interim report from the province on its Invasive Mussel Defence Program.

The report shows that 38,000 watercraft were inspected last year. Of those, 293 decontamination orders were issued, and 238 30-day quarantine periods.

The mussels can live up to 30 days out of water, the board notes.

As well, 25 watercraft were found to be carrying invasive mussels. and, of those, three were Okanagan-bound.

Meanwhile, the province has confirmed it will consider the OBWB’s request for legislative changes to require all incoming watercraft to be inspected.

There's no word on when such a change might come into effect.