Seasonal job opportunities
The following seasonal job positions are currently available for watercraft inspection at various locations in Alberta:
67159 | AIS Watercraft Inspector
67160 | AIS Supervisor/Decontamination Technician (Rovers)
These job postings will remain open until suitable candidates are found. For more information about Government of Alberta job opportunities, see:
Jobs with the Alberta Public Service
It's the law
When highway signage indicates that a watercraft inspection station is open, it is mandatory that everyone transporting a watercraft must report to the onsite inspectors to have their boats, trailers and other water-related equipment checked for invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels, and plants. For further information see Invasive species.
Bypassing an open inspection station while transporting a watercraft is a violation of the Fisheries (Alberta) Act and can result in a $4,200 fine. Additionally, all watercrafts must have their drain plugs pulled while being transported on Alberta highways. Failure to pull the plug may result in a $600 fine.
To review the legislation see:
- Fisheries (Alberta) Act
- Ministerial Order 30/2015 as per Section 32 (14) of Fisheries (Alberta) Act
- Fisheries (Ministerial) Regulation, subsection 6.1
- Order in Council 166/2024 as per the Provincial Offences Procedure Act
- Federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations
We appreciate your compliance. We are taking these steps to protect Alberta’s waters from harmful aquatic invasive species that pose great threats to native fisheries, water quality, local economies and industry.
Check out the video below to learn more about mandatory watercraft inspections.
Stop the mussels!
Check out a fun retro campaign to help Alberta spread the word about the fight to keep invasive zebra and quagga mussels out of our province’s waterways.
Join the fight to keep Alberta invasive mussel free.
Pull the plug – It's the law
In Alberta, it is illegal to transport watercraft with the drain plug still in place. Those who fail to comply may be subject to a $600 fine.
Alberta is fighting to protect its waterways from aquatic invasive species (AIS). Watercraft users must demonstrate upon inspection that their watercraft has been drained of lower hull or bilge related water.
Fines have increased:
- from $324 to $4,200 for failing to stop with a watercraft at an open inspection station
- from $180 to $600 for failing to remove a drain plug when transporting a watercraft on a roadway
Learn more about watercraft inspections.
Join the fight against invasive species
Aquatic invasive species, such as zebra or quagga mussels, can be spread from one waterbody to another on boats or gear that have not been properly cleaned, drained and dried between uses.
Adult invasive mussels attach onto hard surfaces and can be hard to spot on a watercraft. The microscopic forms of these mussels, called veligers, can survive in standing water in a watercraft for many days. If this standing water is moved into a new waterbody, that waterbody may become infested.
Invasive plants can spread through small fragments attached to gear or a watercraft. Fish diseases, like whirling disease, can also be spread through mud and water. To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and diseases always clean, drain, and dry all watercrafts and gear that touches the water between waterbodies.
Prevention practice
Do your part to keep Alberta's waterways safe.
Always follow these steps to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and diseases:
Clean, drain, dry
Get quick tips on how to avoid spreading aquatic invasive species by cleaning your boat properly.
Simple steps
Three simple steps boat owners can take to combat invasive species.