Discovery of zebra mussel near Mactaquac raises alarm over spread of invasive species [Video]

The recent discovery of a live zebra mussel near Mactaquac, west of Fredericton, is raising concerns the invasive species is spreading in New Brunswick, with potentially damaging impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, boats and even beaches.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans found an adult zebra mussel on a dock in the St. John River just north of the Mactaquac Dam in December, said Terry Melanson, team lead for the department’s aquatic invasive species program.

The single mussel doesn’t necessarily mean the species has taken hold in that part of the river, but it does suggest the mollusc has spread from the Edmundston region, where it was first discovered in the province in 2023, Melanson said.

“Now, will it get bad? That we don’t know,” Melanson said in an interview.

“We could see localized impacts and we could see very little [impact]. That’s kind of the mystery behind this … that …