Planning a summer adventure in the Rockies? You’re not alone! With many Canadians opting for vacations closer to home due to ongoing U.S. tariffs, visits to the region’s national parks are set to skyrocket.
But before you load up your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard for a dreamy day on one of B.C.’s stunning emerald lakes, you need to know that Yoho and Kootenay National Parks still have a strict watercraft ban in place.
This rule, originally introduced last year to combat the spread of whirling disease in local fish populations, has been extended until March 31, 2026. The ban covers all watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and fishing. While swimming was initially off-limits, that restriction has since been lifted.
“This measure helps prevent the spread of whirling disease as we chart a safe path forward,” Parks Canada shared in a recent social media post, adding that any future decisions about reopening will be based on science and “a standardized, data-driven approach across all mountain national parks.”
At the same time, non-motorized watercraft from outside park boundaries will not be allowed into Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta, to protect against both whirling disease and invasive zebra and quagga mussels.
Whirling in Alberta First
Albertans love to be first—but when it comes to whirling disease in fish, this is one title we’d rather not claim.
The disease was first detected in Canada back in 2016 at Banff’s Johnson Lake. In response, Parks Canada took drastic action, draining the lake entirely to eliminate the infected fish.
Fast forward to September 20, 2023, and whirling disease made its way to B.C. for the first time, showing up in non-native brook trout at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning. The disease has since been found in the Kicking Horse River, Wapta Lake, Finn Creek, Monarch Creek, and even the confluence of the Emerald and Kicking Horse Rivers. Now, it’s spreading even further, recently confirmed in the Columbia River.
Unlike Johnson Lake, draining these larger water bodies and rivers isn’t an option. So, to slow the spread, Parks Canada has implemented strict rules—banning watercraft and fishing in affected areas. It’s a tough call, but according to Parks Canada, it is a necessary interim solution to “help mitigate further spread while Parks Canada continues monitoring and developing long-term management strategies.”
What is Whirling Disease?
Whirling disease is caused by a tiny parasite called Myxobolus cerebralis, which has a complicated life cycle that depends on two specific hosts: fish and a type of freshwater worm called a Tubifex worm. The disease doesn’t spread directly from fish to fish— instead, the parasite moves between fish and these worms in the water.
The disease mainly affects fish in the salmon family, including trout, salmon, char, grayling, and whitefish. Young fish are especially at risk, with severe outbreaks killing up to 90% of juveniles.
The most noticeable symptom? Infected fish swim in an odd, uncontrolled circular motion—hence the name “whirling disease.” This happens because the parasite attacks the fish’s nervous system and eats away at cartilage around the spine and skull, leading to severe damage and often death.
Why the Ban?
The parasite spreads when people unknowingly move infected fish, fish parts, or even tiny spores stuck to boats, paddles, fishing gear, wetsuits, and other equipment. Once whirling disease gets into a lake or river, there’s no way to get rid of it, so the best defence is preventing it from spreading in the first place.
That’s where the Clean, Drain, Dry rule comes in. This means cleaning off all mud, plants, and debris from your gear, draining any water, and making sure everything is completely dry before heading to a new lake or river.
However, since not everyone follows these steps perfectly, Parks Canada is taking more decisive action—banning fishing and watercraft altogether in certain areas to reduce the risk of humans accidentally spreading the parasite. According to Parks Canada, it’s a tough but necessary move to protect these waters from the further spread of the disease.
Reaction
Not everyone is thrilled about the restrictions, but many understand why they’re necessary as the following comments from Yoho National Parks Facebook post illustrate.
“As a canoeist, I’m sad because I love paddling those rivers and lakes,” one commenter shared. “But as a conservationist and a scientist, I’m glad to see Parks Canada taking steps to protect these waterbodies and all that they connect to downstream.”
Others, however, have their doubts. One person questioned the inclusion of rivers in the ban, arguing, “But let’s get real. In any moving water, such as the Kootenay River, the fish and other animals are able to swim upstream just as well as downstream. The closure of the park side of a river will do little to nothing to prevent what they are preaching.”
Some wondered if the temporary restrictions would even make a difference in the long run. “Obviously, this will limit spread by some small degree, but spread is still inevitable, and it’s at the expense of thousands of people’s enjoyment of our water systems this summer.”
Others were more skeptical of Parks Canada’s motives. “Commercial operations are exempt. Parks Canada has a business relationship with these commercial operations. This is a conflict of interest. It’s pretty clear that they stand to gain additional revenue by forbidding the use of your own personal watercraft and forcing you to rent from one of these exempt commercial partners.”
On the flip side, some applauded the decision, believing it’s a step in the right direction. “Although it won’t eliminate the problem, it might prevent further spread of the disease and contamination of lakes that don’t have the problem,” one supporter wrote. Another added, “It’s best to do a temporary ban and get more data before making bans permanent.”
So, what do you think? Is Parks Canada’s ban necessary to protect our lakes and rivers, or is it an overreach that limits public access?
