Manitoba is going to use dogs to battle with zebra mussels.

Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh said in announcement at a press conference on Friday that the move will make the province the first to use dogs as a permanent strategy to find the invasive species next boating season.

The province decided to train the department's canine unit after detecting a small number of larval zebra mussels during monitoring in the south harbor earlier this month.

The mussels are not the native species of North America. They cause damage to harbors, watercraft and water treatment plants.

A $500,000 campaign was organized to dump liquid potash in four harbors this spring, but zebra mussels are believed to be reproducing outside the treated harbors and entering.

"We're announcing further efforts in what is likely to be a long war against zebra mussels here in the province of Manitoba", said Mackintosh.

The hours of province's decontamination unit will be increased and monitoring will be enhanced in addition to taking help from the federal government for more help at the US border.

According to Mackintosh, a first-in-Canada mussel infestation prevention law similar to that in Minnesota is under development to control the infestation. Also, the province is reviewing enforcement powers and fines.

Boaters are recommended to consider the proper four-step cleaning and containment protocol when leaving the lake. Boaters are reminded that before launching again they should clean their boats with high temperature and high-pressure water, or keep them out of water for at least five days in the heat or 18 days in cooler temperatures, or in freezing temperatures for three days.

Manitoba Conservation has revealed that the mussels have been discovered in at least six spots in Lake Winnipeg. The harbors were declared free of mussels last month.