The province is officially declaring invasive mussels as a "threat".
It's one of several measures the province is taking to prevent quagga and zebra mussels from getting into B.C. waters this year.
Two new watercraft inspection stations have also been added, in Yahk and Midway, bringing the total up to 10, and 35 new inspection officers have been hired, bringing the total to 68.
The additional officers will allow for the stations to have extended hours, roughly dusk to dawn, while the one in Golden will be open 24/7.
Premier Christy Clark also announced on Thursday in West Kelowna that conservation officers would be increasing enforcement.
“It is illegal to bring invasive species into the province and it is illegal to launch a boat that is uninspected,” she said “We are going to be increasing enforcement of all of those rules because at the moment, although we have the power and have had for a long time, the province hasn’t enforced it sufficiently”
Fines for illegally transporting mussels anywhere in B.C. can cost up to $50,000 for a first offence and drivers with a boat who fail to stop at an inspection station can be fined $345.
A mussel detection dog named Kilo, who will rotate between high volume stations, was also announced, as well as expanded invasive mussel lake monitoring. Kilo is Canada's first multi-purpose mussel detection dog.
A 2013 study done for the Okanagan Basin Water Board estimates invasive mussels in the Okanagan would cost $43 million each year.
The new measures bring the total cost of the program up to $4.5 million, about half of which is funded by the province, with the other half funded by BC Hydro, Fortis BC, Columbia Power and Columbia Basin Trust.