But hatchery workers must use the method before they ever even see a single zebra mussel in their ponds. Because once these intrusive exotics are discovered in a new home it's too late. On the face of it, that sounds pretty simple. But in the hatchery business, time is fish. So if a worker is spending several hours to drive and to collect eggs or adults or to stock fish, the contact time simply becomes part of the travel time.
Nothing is lost.
But if the pickup or delivery point is only 15 minutes away, as is often the case, then that 3-hour contact time becomes waiting time. Now you can see why hatchery workers might balk. Many transfers in a day are reduced to just a few. That yet , of course, is all important. It is simply the responsible thing to do.