PetSmart Canada stops selling fish, cites federal oversight and invasive species - Global News

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PetSmart Canada stops selling fish, cites federal oversight and invasive species - Global News Posted: 12 Apr 2021 12:00 AM PDT PetSmart confirms they have stopped selling aquarium fish at most of their Canadian stores, in the interim, over concerns due to an invasive species that threatens the Canadian environment. A note posted at the Kelowna, B.C. store states fish sales have been curtailed due to Canada Fisheries and Oceans restrictions and to "help prevent the spread of the zebra mussel." Van Whitehead / Submitted. Van Whitehead / Submitted "Our top priority is supporting the health and wellness of people, pets and our ecosystem," a PetSmart spokesperson in the U.S. told Global News. "We immediately instructed our stores to remove impacted moss balls from our shelves and destroy them." Story continues below advertisement "We are in the process of ensuring our aquariums are treated properly before resuming our fish sales." Fisheries and Oceans Canada said it has asked some pet stores to stop selling live fish because of the concern over invasive mussels until all aquariums can be properly cleaned and decontaminated. "The direction prohibits anyone from releasing, transporting, buying, selling, trading, or bartering any fish, plants, or other organisms which are located in any aquarium or container th​at may have come into contact with moss balls and/or contaminated water from moss balls," Fisheries and Oceans Canada told Global News. Read more: B.C. Conservation seizes thousand of moss balls due to hidden invasive species Meanwhile, a privately owned pet store in Kelowna, the Purple Seahorse, said a recent inspection and request by the B.C. Conservation Service to stop selling moss balls is linked to its continued ability to sell aquarium fish. The B.C. government, earlier this month, announced thousands of moss balls, a decorative aquarium feature, were confiscated and destroyed across the province due to the discovery of invasive zebra mussels on the item. Zebra mussels have been detected in moss/algal ball products, which are often sold as Marimo Moss Balls. Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment / Supplied The Purple Seahorse said it froze all moss balls, as prescribed, before throwing them out. Story continues below advertisement Freezing temperatures kill zebra mussels, according to the B.C. Conservation Service. Related News Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon agree to fight zebra mussels Read more: Maritime aquarium owners warned to watch for invasive mussels in decorative plant "Invasive species in B.C. is a huge, huge issue," said Sarah Trillo, a Purple Seahorse employee. "Coming from Ontario myself and seeing the zebra mussel issue, which can cause billions of dollars of damage to our water systems, I think it's incredibly important for not only staff but customers to understand the importance of controlling these invasive species. Zebra and quagga mussels specifically." It's not yet known how many Petsmart locations have stopped selling aquarium fish, but the notice at the Kelowna store apologizes for the inconvenience and states sales will resume in the coming weeks. "There have been confirmed reports of invasive mussels found in moss ball products in British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick," the federal government agency said. "Fisheries and Oceans Canada is monitoring the situation, in close collaboration with federal and provincial counterparts." Read more: Invasive mussels: 10 boats, 5 bound for Okanagan, stopped by B.C. conservation officers Moss balls are made from green algae, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Story continues below advertisement "We are working quickly with our provincial, territorial and federal partners to take appropriate measures to stop the import and further distribution of products potentially containing prohibited zebra mussels and to promote the responsible disposal of products already in the hands of Canadians." The threat over zebra mussels is being taken seriously by the federal government, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as the invader can destroy aquatic ecosystems, fish populations, hydropower stations, agriculture irrigation systems and other infrastructure. "They multiply rapidly and are extremely difficult to eradicate once they become established in an area," it said. 2:23Invasive Zebra mussels found in B.C. aquarium Invasive Zebra mussels found in B.C. aquarium – Mar 6, 2021 Related News © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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