ONTARIO—In a decisive move to safeguard its ecosystem and economy, Ontario has announced strict measures against invasive species. The province, known for hosting the highest number of invasive species in Canada, has initiated prohibitions and restrictions on 10 new non-native species under the Invasive Species Act.
Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, emphasized the critical need for action, stating, “Invasive species damage our ecosystems, impact our ability to enjoy outdoor activities, and harm our economy by threatening key sectors like forestry and agriculture.”
The invasive species, once established, pose significant challenges in control and eradication, rendering them highly damaging to the natural environment. The Invasive Species Act of 2015 lists 42 species, four groups, one family and two carriers and provides legislative tools to restrict and prohibit these invasive entities.
The updated regulations now include several species of fish, aquatic plants and invertebrates in the prohibited category. Additionally, certain groups of aquatic and terrestrial plants will face new restrictions effective January 1, 2024.
The government has also initiated consultations to revamp the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan to address the evolving threat of invasive species more effectively. Ontario invested over $5 million in 2023-24 across various programs and educational initiatives throughout the province to support research, monitoring and management efforts.
The potential impact of invasive species on various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, forestry, healthcare, tourism and recreation, was estimated to be as high as $3.6 billion annually in Ontario by the Invasive Species Centre in 2019.
Liam Campbell, from Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association (MSIA), highlighted concerns about the invasion of Eurasian Water-milfoil in local biodiversity. He urged caution among individuals dealing with species like minnows, stressing the importance of accurately identifying and handling these species to prevent unintentional transfers between ecosystems.
He did say, however, that many of the species of fish included on the new list are very small and cautioned those licenced to harvest minnows to identify all species of minnow before allowing them to be brought to another body of water.
“People who use recreational vehicles such as boats, personal watercraft, quads and other ATVs should also take care to rinse their vehicles and trailers if they are going to be using them from place to place. Often, aquatic and land plants can be transferred from one ecosystem to another by accident,” Mr. Campbell said.
The regulated species and groups span various categories, from fish and aquatic plants to mammals and terrestrial plants, each carrying potential impacts on biodiversity, water quality and habitat preservation.
Colin Cassin, the policy manager at the Invasive Species Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, told The Expositor, “People should think of the difference between prohibited species and restricted species like this: if the species is prohibited, it means that it’s an invasive species that hasn’t taken hold in our local ecosystems and we are trying to prevent that from happening. If the species is restricted, there is already a population we are trying to control and phase out.”
Efforts to identify invasive species have improved using tools like EDDMapS. This web-based mapping system allows for the documentation of invasive species and pest distribution, aiding in creating a comprehensive understanding of their prevalence. EDDMapS aggregates data from multiple sources, including volunteer observations, to establish a robust network of invasive species and pest distribution data accessible to various stakeholders.
Ontario’s stringent measures against invasive species signify a proactive step towards preserving its natural ecosystems and safeguarding vital economic sectors from the detrimental impacts of these intruders.
The following species and groups will be prohibited in Ontario effective January 1, 2024: ide (fish), eastern and western mosquito fishes (fish), red shiner (fish), oxygen weed (aquatic plant), nutria (mammal), genus salvinia (watermoss – aquatic plant), genus procambarus and genus pacifastacus (crayfish).
The following species and groups will now be restricted effective January 1, 2024: Eurasian water-milfoil (aquatic plant), floating primrose-willow (aquatic plant), flowering-rush (aquatic plant), tree-of-heaven (terrestrial plant), genus azolla (water ferns – aquatic plant),
Call toll-free 1-877-847-7667 to report any illegal activity involving invasive species to the ministry.
