WINNIPEG -- Manitoba has finished a unique experiment to kill off zebra mussels in four of its harbours.

The province sealed off the harbours with a silt curtain before injecting liquid potash into the water.

Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh says the treatment was successful and killed the mussels.

But he says that was just the first step in the battle to keep the mussels out of the province.

Mackintosh says there is still a good chance zebra mussels are still lurking in the water outside the harbours.

He says Manitoba is increasing monitoring on Lake Winnipeg and the province now has five decontamination units for boats that could spread the mussels.