Definitions

1   (1) In this regulation:

"accredited zoo or aquarium" means a zoo or an aquarium that

(a) is accredited by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, or

(b) provides proof to the satisfaction of the director of meeting or exceeding the accreditation standards set by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums;

"Act" means the Wildlife Act;

"aircraft" has the same meaning as in section 95 (1) of the Act;

"aquatic invasive species individual" means a single member of an aquatic invasive species;

"BC waters" includes

(a) any part of a body of water that is located in British Columbia,

(b) fish habitat as defined in the Water Sustainability Regulation,

(c) a stream as defined in the Water Sustainability Act,

(d) a ditch, and

(e) any of the following that may leak, drain or empty, directly or indirectly, into any part of a body of water, fish habitat, stream or ditch referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d):

(i) a naturally-formed pool of water other than one referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d);

(ii) a storm drain, sewer or other artificial conduit;

(iii) a tank or other container that holds or is intended to hold water or wastewater;

"certified educational institution" means a body that

(a) is an educational body within the meaning of paragraph (a), (c), (d) or (d.1) of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and

(b) holds a valid Certificate of Good Animal Practice issued by the Canadian Council on Animal Care;

"certified research institution" means a body that

(a) holds a valid Certificate of Good Animal Practice issued by the Canadian Council on Animal Care, and

(b) publishes the results of original research in a peer-reviewed scientific journal at least once each year;

"contaminated jurisdiction" means one or more of the following:

(a) a jurisdiction listed in Schedule 5;

(b) a province of Canada that is not listed in Schedule 5 but has within its jurisdiction one or more bodies of water that are contaminated with mussels;

(c) a state of the United States of America that is not listed in Schedule 5 but has within its jurisdiction one or more bodies of water that are contaminated with mussels;

"mussel" means a single member of an aquatic invasive species designated in Schedule 4;

"mussel prevention measure" means a measure taken by an officer under section 9.03 of this regulation;

"mussel prevention order" means an order issued by an officer under section 9.04 of this regulation;

"prohibited species individual" means any of the following:

(a) a single live member of a controlled alien species designated in Schedule 1, at any developmental stage;

(b) a single live member of a controlled alien species designated in section 1 (1) or (2) of Schedule 2 that is 3 metres or more in length when measured from the front of the snout to the tip of the tail while the animal is fully extended;

(c) a single live member of a controlled alien species designated in section 1 (3) of Schedule 2 that is 2 metres or more in length when measured from the front of the snout to the tip of the tail while the animal is fully extended;

"release" includes, for the purpose of applying section 7 (3) [prohibitions] of this regulation and section 77 (2) [fail to make reasonable effort to recover escaped animal] of the Act to a mussel, allowing the mussel to come into contact with BC waters;

"restricted species individual" means a single live member of a controlled alien species designated in Schedule 2, at any developmental stage, but does not include a prohibited species individual;

"water-related equipment" has the same meaning as in section 95 (1) of the Act.

(2) In Schedules 1 to 4, if a reference to a species is followed by italicized text in square brackets that is or purports to be descriptive of the species, the italicized text in square brackets is not part of this regulation and is to be considered to have been added editorially for convenience of reference only.

[am. B.C. Regs. 233/2009, App. A, s. 1; 402/2012, s. 2; 48/2014, s. 1; 89/2016; 213/2016; 85/2025, s. 1.]

Designation of species as controlled alien species and aquatic invasive species

2   (1) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition of "controlled alien species" in section 1 (1) [definitions] of the Act, the species listed in Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this regulation are designated as controlled alien species.

(2) For the purposes of the definition of "aquatic invasive species" in section 1 (1) of the Act, the species listed in Schedules 3 and 4 of this regulation are designated as aquatic invasive species.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 2.]

Possession

3   A person must not possess a prohibited species individual unless the person holds a permit authorizing the possession of that prohibited species individual.

[en. B.C. Reg. 94/2009, Sch. B, s. 1; am. B.C. Regs. 233/2009, App. B, s. 1; 402/2012, s. 5; 60/2013.]

Breeding

4   (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who possesses a prohibited species individual must prevent the prohibited species individual from breeding.

(2) A person who possesses a prohibited species individual may allow the prohibited species individual to breed if

(a) the person

(i) operates an accredited zoo or aquarium,

(ii) is a certified educational institution, or

(iii) is a certified research institution,

(b) the person holds a permit authorizing the person to allow that prohibited species individual to breed, and

(c) the breeding is in accordance with a management plan approved by a regional manager.

[am. B.C. Regs. 233/2009, App. A, s. 3; 94/2009, App. B, s. 2; 402/2012, s. 6.]

Release prohibited

5   A person must not release a restricted species individual or prohibited species individual or allow a restricted species individual or prohibited species individual to be released, or to escape.

[am. B.C. Regs. 233/2009, App. A, s. 4; 402/2012, s. 7.]

Shipping or transportation

5.1   A person must not ship or transport in British Columbia a prohibited species individual unless the person holds a permit authorizing the shipping or transportation of the prohibited species individual.

[en. B.C. Reg. 94/2009, Sch. B, s. 3; am. B.C. Reg. 233/2009, App. B, s. 2.]

Offences

6   (1) A person who contravenes any of the following sections commits an offence:

(a) section 3 [prohibition against possession of prohibited species];

(b) section 4 (1) [prohibition against prohibited species breeding];

(c) section 5;

(d) section 5.1.

(2) An offence under subsection (1) (b) or (c) is prescribed as an offence for the purposes of section 84 (1) (a) (ii) [determining fines and penalties for offences] of the Act.

(3) An offence under subsection (1) (a) is prescribed as an offence for the purposes of section 84 (1) (b) (ii) of the Act.

[am. B.C. Reg. 94/2009, Sch. B, s. 4.]

Prohibitions

7   (1) A person must not possess an aquatic invasive species individual.

(2) A person who possesses an aquatic invasive species individual must prevent the aquatic invasive species individual from breeding.

(3) A person must not

(a) release into BC waters an aquatic invasive species individual, or

(b) allow an aquatic invasive species individual to be released, or to escape, into BC waters.

(c) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 48/2014, s. 2 (b).]

(4) A person must not ship or transport in British Columbia an aquatic invasive species individual.

[en. B.C. Reg. 402/2012, s. 8; am. B.C. Reg. 48/2014, s. 2.]

Mandatory opening of drainage holes, valves and devices for transport

7.01   (1) A person must not transport, on land, a boat unless

(a) all drainage holes, valves or other devices used to drain water from the boat are left open, other than holes, valves or devices used in kitchen or washroom facilities on the boat, or

(b) the boat is transported in an inverted manner and the interior of the boat is drained, including draining any ballast tanks, bilge areas or compartments.

(2) A person must not transport, on land, water-related equipment unless all drainage holes, valves or other devices used to drain water from the equipment are left open.

(3) A person must not transport, on land, an aircraft designed to land on water unless all drainage holes, valves or other devices used to drain water from the aircraft's pontoons are left open, other than holes, valves or devices used in washroom facilities on the aircraft.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 4.]

Application of Act to dead mussels

7.1   The following sections of the Act apply as if a dead mussel were wildlife or an animal:

(a) section 33 (2) [offence to possess dead wildlife unless authorized];

(b) section 37 [offence to transport wildlife unless authorized];

(c) section 77 (2) [offence to release or abandon animal].

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 5.]

Certified educational and research institutions exempt

8   (1) A certified educational institution and a certified research institution are exempt from

(a) the prohibitions set out in section 7 (1) and (4), and

(b) the requirement set out in section 7 (2).

(c) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 6 (b).]

(2) A person is exempt from the prohibitions set out in section 7 (1) and (4) in respect of a dead mussel if

(a) the dead mussel is fully encased in an acrylic resin or similar material, and

(b) the person is using the dead mussel for an educational or public awareness purpose.

[en. B.C. Reg. 402/2012, s. 8; am. B.C. Regs. 48/2014, s. 4; 85/2025, s. 6.]

Repealed

9   Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Officer uniform and identification required

9.01   An officer must be wearing an officer's official uniform or displaying an officer's official identification for the purposes of one or more of the following:

(a) taking a mussel prevention measure in accordance with section 9.03;

(b) issuing a mussel prevention order in accordance with section 9.04;

(c) enforcing an offence under section 10 [offences].

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Grounds for mussel prevention measure or order

9.02   An officer may take a mussel prevention measure or issue a mussel prevention order in respect of a vehicle, aircraft designed to land on water or boat or any water-related equipment if one or more of the following circumstances exist:

(a) the officer inspected the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment and determined that the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment

(i) may be or may have been contaminated with mussels, or

(ii) may be or may have been contaminated with suspected mussels;

(b) the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment is owned, or is registered, licensed, insured or otherwise authorized to be possessed or operated, in a contaminated jurisdiction;

(c) the officer has reason to believe that the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment was operated in, or otherwise came into contact with, water that is contaminated with mussels or water that is potentially contaminated with mussels;

(d) the officer has reason to believe that a person may be in violation of one or more of the following provisions with respect to mussels:

(i) section 7 [prohibitions] of this regulation;

(ii) section 7.01 [mandatory opening of drainage holes, valves and devices for transport] of this regulation;

(iii) section 33 (2) [offence to possess dead wildlife unless authorized] of the Act;

(iv) section 37 [offence to transport wildlife unless authorized] of the Act;

(v) section 77 (2) [offence to release or abandon animal] of the Act.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Mussel prevention measures

9.03   An officer may take one or more of the following mussel prevention measures in respect of a vehicle, aircraft designed to land on water or boat or any water-related equipment:

(a) decontaminate all or part of the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment;

(b) apply a seal to an aircraft or boat or any equipment.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Mussel prevention orders

9.04   (1) An officer may issue a mussel prevention order requiring a person to do one or more of the following in respect of a vehicle, aircraft designed to land on water or boat or any water-related equipment:

(a) remove mussels or suspected mussels, within a period of time specified in the order, from the vehicle, aircraft or boat or equipment;

(b) comply with any written directions contained or attached to the order with respect to the removal of mussels or suspected mussels;

(c) ensure that the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment does not come into contact with BC waters for

(i) a period of time specified in the order, or

(ii) until a condition specified in the order is satisfied;

(d) report, within a period of time and in the manner specified in the order, with one or both of the following:

(i) proof, satisfactory to an officer, of compliance with the order;

(ii) the vehicle, aircraft, boat or equipment that is the subject of the order, for the purposes of further inspection by an officer.

(2) An officer may issue a mussel prevention order requiring a person to do one or more of the following in respect of an aircraft designed to land on water or boat or any water-related equipment:

(a) remove a drainage plug, valve or device used to drain water in or on the aircraft, boat or equipment;

(b) leave open, for a period of time specified in the order, a drainage plug, valve or device used to drain water in or on the aircraft, boat or equipment;

(c) ensure that a seal applied by an officer is not altered or removed from the aircraft, boat or equipment unless the removal is directed or completed by an officer.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Interference with prevention measure

9.05   A person must not interfere with an officer who is taking or attempting to take a mussel prevention measure.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Compliance with mussel prevention order

9.06   (1) A person to whom a mussel prevention order is issued must comply with the order.

(2) A person to whom a mussel prevention order is issued must ensure that the subject vehicle, aircraft designed to land on water, boat or water-related equipment of the order does not come into contact with BC waters until the order is complied with.

(3) A person who engages in procedures to remove mussels or suspected mussels must ensure that the water used in those procedures does not come into contact with BC waters.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 7.]

Immediate destruction

9.1   The disposal power set out in section 97.3 [if perishable wildlife seized] of the Act applies to an aquatic invasive species individual as if the aquatic invasive species individual were wildlife.

[en. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 8.]

Offences

10   (1) A person who contravenes any of the following commits an offence:

(a) section 7 (1) [possess aquatic invasive species individual];

(b) section 7 (2) [prevent aquatic invasive species individual from breeding];

(c) section 7 (3) (a) or (b) [release or allow release of aquatic individual into BC waters];

(d) section 7 (4) [ship or transport aquatic species individual in BC];

(e) section 7.01 (1) [transporting boat — mandatory opening of drainage holes, valves and devices or complete drainage];

(f) section 7.01 (2) [transporting water-related equipment — mandatory opening of drainage holes, valves and devices];

(g) section 7.01 (3) [transporting aircraft — mandatory opening of drainage holes, valves and devices];

(h) section 9.05 [interfere with officer taking mussel prevention measure];

(i) section 9.06 (1) [comply with mussel prevention order];

(j) section 9.06 (2) [no contact with BC waters];

(k) section 9.06 (3) [water used in procedure to remove mussels not to come into contact with BC waters].

(2) An offence under subsection (1) (c) is prescribed as an offence for the purposes of section 84 (1) (a) (ii) [determining fines and penalties for offences] of the Act.

(3) The following are prescribed as offences for the purposes of section 84 (1)  (b) (ii) of the Act:

(a) an offence under subsection (1) (i);

(b) an offence under subsection (1) (j).

[en. B.C. Reg. 402/2012, s. 8; am. B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 9.]

1   Mammals of the following species:

(a) all species of the order Primate [monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees] except humans;

(b) all species of the order Proboscidae [elephants];

(c) all species of the family Canidae [dingos, jackals and raccoon-dogs], except the following:

(i) Alopex lagopus [arctic fox];

(ii) Canis latrans [coyote] that are native species;

(iii) Canis lupus [wolf] that are native species;

(iv) Canis lupus familiarus [domestic dog];

(v) Urocyon cinereoargenteus [grey fox];

(vi) Vulpes macrotis [kit fox];

(vii) Vulpes vulpes [red fox];

(d) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 233/2009, App. A, s. 5 (a).]

(e) all species of the family Hippopotamidae [hippopotamus];

(f) all species of the family Hyaenidae [hyenas and aardwolves];

(g) all species of the family Rhinocerotidae [rhinoceros];

(h) all species of the family Ursidae [bears], except the following:

(i) Ursus americanus [black bear];

(ii) Ursus arctos [grizzly bear];

(i) all species of the subfamily Pantherinae [big cats such as lions, tigers and panthers];

(i.1) all species of the genus Giraffa [giraffes];

(j) Acinonyx jubatus [cheetah];

(k) Bos frontalis [gaur];

(l) Lynx lynx [Eurasian lynx];

(m) Lynx pardinus [Iberian lynx];

(n) Syncerus caffer [African buffalo].

2   Birds of the following species:

(a) all species of the genus Casuarius [cassowaries].

3   Amphibians of the following species:

(a) Phyllobates aurotaenia [kokoe poison arrow frog];

(b) Phyllobates bicolour [two-toned poison arrow frog];

(c) Phyllobates terribilis [golden poison arrow frog].

4   (1) Reptiles of the following species:

(a) all species of the order Crocodilia [alligators, crocodiles and caimans];

(a.1) all species of the family Atractaspididae [mole vipers, stiletto snakes and burrowing asps];

(b) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 233/2009, App. A, s. 6 (c).]

(c) all species of the family Crotalidae [pit vipers] except Crotalus oreganus [western rattlesnake];

(d) all species of the family Elapidae [death adders, cobras, kraits and mambas];

(e) all species of the family Helodermatidae [gila monsters and beaded lizards];

(e.1) all species of the family Hydrophiidae [sea snakes and kraits];

(f) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 233/2009, App. A, s. 6 (c).]

(g) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 402/2012, s. 9 (a).]

(h) all species of the family Viperidae [vipers].

(i) to (n) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 233/2009, App. A, s. 6 (c).]

(2) Reptiles of the following species of the family Boidae:

(a) all species of the genus Eunectes [anacondas];

(b) Epicrates angulifer [Cuban boa].

(3) Reptiles of the following species of the family Colubridae [venomous snakes]:

(a) all species of the genus Boiga [cat and mangrove snakes];

(b) all species of the genus Dispholidus [boomslang snakes];

(c) all species of the genus Elapomorphus [diadem and lizard-eating snakes];

(d) all species of the genus Hydrodynastes [false water cobras];

(e) all species of the genus Leptophis [parrot snakes];

(f) all species of the genus Phalotris [Argentinean black-headed snakes];

(g) all species of the genus Philodryas [green racers];

(h) all species of the genus Ptychophis [fanged water snakes];

(i) all species of the genus Rhabdophis [keelback snakes];

(j) all species of the genus Tachymenis [Boulenger's and Chilean slender snakes];

(k) all species of the genus Thelotornis [twig snakes];

(l) all species of the genus Xenodon [false fer-de-lance].

(4) Reptiles of the following species of the family Pythonidae:

(a) Morelia amethistina [amethystine python];

(b) Morelia boeleni [Boelen's python];

(c) Morelia clastolepis [Seram scrub python];

(d) Morelia kinghorni [Australian scrub python];

(e) Morelia oenpelliensis [Oenpelli python];

(e.1) Python bivittatus [Burmese python];

(f) Python molurus [Indian python];

(g) Python natalensis [South African rock python];

(h) Python reticulatus [reticulated python];

(i) Python sebae [African rock python].

(5) Reptiles of the following species of the family Varanidae:

(a) Varanus bengalensis [Bengal monitor and clouded monitor];

(b) Varanus giganteus [perentie];

(c) Varanus komodoensis [komodo dragon];

(d) Varanus niloticus [Nile monitor and water leguaan];

(e) Varanus salvadorii [Salvadori's monitor and crocodile monitor];

(f) Varanus salvator [Asiatic water monitor and water monitor];

(g) Varanus varius [lace goanna].

1   (1) Reptiles of the following species of the family Boidae:

(a) Acrantophis madagascariensis [Madagascan ground boa];

(b) Boa constrictor [boa constrictor].

(2) Reptiles of the following species of the family Pythonidae:

(a) Apodora papuana [Papuan python];

(b) Aspidites melanocephalus [black-headed python];

(c) Aspidites ramsayi [woma];

(d) Liasis fuscus [Australian brown python];

(e) Liasis mackloti [water python];

(f) Liasis olivaceus [Australian olive python];

(g) Morelia spilota [carpet python].

(3) Reptiles of the family Varanidae, other than reptiles of the species listed in section 4 (5) of Schedule 1.

1   (1) Fish of the following species of the family Channidae:

(a) all species of the genus Channa [Asian snakeheads];

(b) all species of the genus Parachanna [African snakeheads].

(2) Misgurnus anguillicaudatus [oriental weatherfish or weather loach] of the family Cobitidae.

(3) Fish of the following species of the family Cyprinidae:

(a) Ctenopharyngodon idella [grass carp];

(b) Hypophthalmichthys molitrix [silver carp];

(c) Hypophthalmichthys nobilis [bighead carp];

(d) Mylopharyngodon piceus [black carp];

(e) all species of the genus Rhodeus [bitterlings];

(f) Tanichthys albonubes [White Cloud Mountain minnow];

(g) Tinca tinca [tench].

(4) Fish of the following species of the family Gobiidae:

(a) Neogobius fluviatilis [monkey goby];

(b) Neogobius melanostomus [round goby];

(c) Proterorhinus semilunaris [tubenose goby];

(d) Rhinogobius brunneus [Amur goby].

(5) All fish species of the family Ictaluridae [including bullheads, channel catfish and madtoms].

(6) Gambusia affinis [western mosquitofish] of the family Poeciliidae.

1   Mussels of the following species of the family Dreissenidae:

(a) Dreissena polymorpha [zebra mussel];

(b) Dreissena rostriformis bugensis [quagga mussel];

(c) Mytilopsis leucophaeata [Conrad's false mussel].

2   Limnoperna fortunei [golden mussel] of the family Mytilidae.

1   The following provinces of Canada:

(a) Ontario;

(b) Québec;

(c) Manitoba;

(d) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 11 (a).]

(e) New Brunswick.

2   The following states of the United States of America:

(a) Alabama;

(b) Arizona;

(c) Arkansas;

(d) California;

(e) Colorado;

(f) Connecticut;

(f.1) Idaho;

(g) Illinois;

(h) Indiana;

(i) Iowa;

(j) Kansas;

(k) Kentucky;

(l) Louisiana;

(m) Maryland;

(n) Massachusetts;

(o) Michigan;

(p) Minnesota;

(q) Mississippi;

(r) Missouri;

(r.1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 85/2025, s. 11 (c).]

(s) Nebraska;

(t) Nevada;

(u) New Mexico;

(v) New York;

(v.1) North Carolina;

(w) North Dakota;

(x) Ohio;

(y) Oklahoma;

(z) Pennsylvania;

(aa) South Dakota;

(bb) Tennessee;

(cc) Texas;

(dd) Utah;

(ee) Vermont;

(ff) West Virginia;

(gg) Wisconsin.