Ten new restricted and prohibited species will be added to Ontario’s Invasive Species Act as of January 1.
The move, which aims to help prevent, control, and reduce the spread of harmful invaders, also includes four groups of similar species.
“Invasive species damage our ecosystems, impact our ability to enjoy outdoor activities and harm our economy by threatening the forestry and agriculture sectors,” Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith stated on Dec. 11. “That’s why we are taking action to restrict these invasive species to protect Ontario’s economy and ecosystems.”
Fish, plants, invertebrates included
Examples of new species that will now be prohibited include certain fish, aquatic plants, and invertebrates, while restrictions will also be placed on groups of new aquatic and terrestrial plants.
The addition, first announced earlier this year, was lauded by groups including the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH).
“The OFAH and its Invading Species Awareness Program are pleased to see the addition of 10 new prohibited and restricted species under the Invasive Species Act,” Executive Director Angelo Lombardo stated. “With over 30 years of collaboration with the province, we will continue to support their goals of preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species in Ontario.”
For prohibited species, it is illegal to import, possess, deposit, release, transport, propagate (breed/grow), buy, sell, lease or trade these invasive species.
For restricted species, it is illegal to deposit or release restricted invasive species in Ontario and cannot be brought into a provincial park or conservation reserve.
What’s prohibited
- Ide (fish)
Potential impacts: introduce parasites, virus, and disease transmission, and compete with native fishes. - Eastern and western mosquito fishes (fish)
Potential impacts: outcompete native fish species for food and habitat through aggressive feeding of zooplankton, eggs, and larvae, leading to the loss of biodiversity and potential loss of some native species in Ontario. - Red shiner (fish)
Potential impacts: reduce native fish populations through predation on eggs and larvae, genetic impacts through hybridization, and introduction of parasites. - Oxygen weed (aquatic plant)
Potential impacts: dense colonies outcompete native vegetation, adversely affect water quality, and impede recreational activities such as boating and swimming. - Nutria (mammal)
Potential impacts: burrowing and foraging behaviour impacts agricultural areas and increases flooding risks, spread parasites and disease to humans, pets and livestock, and can destroy coastal wetlands. - Genus salvinia (Watermoss – aquatic plant)
- Potential impacts: dense colonies outcompete native vegetation, adversely affect water quality and impede recreational activities such as boating and swimming.
- Genus procambarus and genus pacifastacus (Crayfish)
Potential impacts: compete with native crayfish and fish species for food and shelter.
What’s restricted
- Eurasian water-milfoil (aquatic plant)
Potential impacts: outcompete native vegetation, adversely affect water quality, impede recreational activities and create habitat for mosquitoes. - Floating primrose-willow (aquatic plant)
Potential impacts: dense colonies outcompete native vegetation, adversely affect water quality, and impedes recreational activities such as boating and swimming. - Flowering-rush (aquatic plant)
Potential impacts: can displace native riparian vegetation, forms dense stands which impact industrial and recreational uses of shallow waters, and reduces habitat of native fish and increases habitat for invasive fish. - Tree-of-heaven (terrestrial plant)
Potential impacts: changes chemical and microbial activity in soils, reduces soil nutrients, displace native plant species, associated with several fungal pathogens and the preferred host to the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). - Genus azolla (Water ferns – aquatic plant)
Potential impacts: dense colonies outcompete native vegetation, adversely affect water quality, impedes recreational activities such as boating and swimming, and negatively affect wild rice populations.
