Watercraft transportation legal requirements to prevent invasive species, effective May 17, 2024

Effective May 17, 2024 in B.C. it is now illegal to transport your watercraft with the drain plug still in place.

Before transporting a boat or other watercraft, owners/operators must remove the drain plug and drain all water on dry land including all internal compartments such as ballasts, bilges, and live wells. Operators should also allow a minimum of 24 hours drying time for watercraft and/or equipment before entering new waters.

Learn more:

• Province of BC Media Release

• BC Information to Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels

• Bringing your boat to B.C.

• Zebra and quagga mussel facts

New Policy Will Help BC Liquor Manufacturers Enhance Visitor Experiences

In response to industry feedback, the province has implemented a suite of policy changes to enhance visitor experiences at wineries and other liquor-manufacturing sites this summer.

Improvements to the customer experience include:

• Allowing people to sit and enjoy samples while on a guided tour

• Allowing packaged liquor sales in more places on site, including tours

• Allowing more flexibility around sampling so liquor manufacturers can customize sampling experiences for visitors; and

• Allowing manufacturers to sell and promote their products in picnic areas and host visitors more effectively.

Learn more from the official government announcement