Seven months ago, zebra mussels were spotted on a boat in Gimli Harbour and since then it has infested Lake Winnipeg. The province is now planning to kill the invasive species.

To kill them, the province wants to use liquid potash in harbors at Winnipeg Beach, Arnes, Gimli and Balsam Bay. If the plan gets green signal then the harbors will remain closed for several weeks.

More than 50 people from Manitoba's fishing industry had a meeting with Conservation minister Gord Mackintosh in Gimli on Friday.

They discussed about the living of people who depend on Lake Winnipeg if the harbors are closed. People associated with the fishing industry suggested to send some divers into water to get an idea about how serious is the problem.

Gord Mackintosh said he would consider the idea and would some divers out there. Edward Alleyn, whose business relies on servicing boats on the lake, said he was satisfied with the meeting. In the meeting, main aim was to sort out the problem and that is exactly what they tried to do.

Provincial officials have been trying to come up with ways as how fishing boats will travel in and out of the ports as the lakes get treated with potash. A working group is acting as a mediator between fishermen and harbor authorities and trying to come up with solutions.

The plan is expected to continue from mid-May to mid-June, which is considered to be quite an important time to catch fish in the lake. Tony Pimentel, Mayor of Winnipeg Beach, said the committee will look into the matter and decide how the fishermen can continue with their work while the province carries out the work to kill the mussels.