Meet Ray Knight, CFIA ship inspector

My name is Ray Knight, and I've always had a strong connection to the outdoors.

As a kid, I camped, hunted and fished with my family a lot. This inspired me to further my education and obtain a degree in the field of Forest Resources Management. After that, I started working in the beautiful coastal and interior forests of British Columbia (BC).

I had the chance to explore some of the province's older coastal forests filled with huge trees—and was thrilled to see a lot of new, healthy forests growing, too. Through this, I gained a deeper appreciation for nature and its diversity.

In my current job as a plant health inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), I carefully check over shipments from around the world to make sure what's inside won't damage the environment I care so much about.

From the forest to the port

During forestry training, I developed field skills and data collection techniques that I still use to this day. After my studies, I witnessed the aftermath of the mountain pine beetle outbreak in the BC. The clear-cutting of vast areas was necessary to stop the beetle infestations. We also completed surveys to record and quantify the damage to the forests.

When I joined the CFIA in 1998, I continued my work on invasive pests by inspecting wood packaging in shipping containers as they arrived at the Port of Vancouver. We made sure the packaging was insect-free before any containers made their way to the importer in Canada.

We saw all sorts of interesting things in those containers, from personal belongings, to classic cars, to heavy equipment. If it can fit in a container, it could end up in one! I also had a direct impact in changing how dunnage (loose wood used to keep a cargo in position in a ship's hold) moves around the world.

During one of those dunnage inspections, I found the larvae of the Asian longhorned beetle. These are massive larvae—close to the size of your thumb—that use their mandibles to chew through wood. I made the mistake of bringing my finger a little too close, and one of them took the opportunity to chew on it like a piece wood. That hurt! Once I got my fingers out of the way, we fumigated the dunnage to kill the insects and refused the ship's entry into Canada. This beetle is invasive and not allowed into Canada because of the damage it can cause to Canada's forests.

These pests will knot get past us

I've worked on many different files at the CFIA, from avian influenza (bird flu) to inspecting plant and animal products imported into Canada to ensure they meet Canadian requirements—both physically and on paper.

While I enjoy those parts of the job, inspecting ships is the most interesting. Most people may not associate CFIA inspectors with marine vessels, but there are two reasons we are there: (1) to protect grain exports and (2) to prevent the introduction of an invasive moth known as the AGM.

Canada exports a lot of grain like wheat, oats, canola and barley. To move such large quantities of grain, much of it goes into freighters. My job is to meet those freighters before they are loaded and verify the ship itself meets Canadian phytosanitary (plant health) standards. In other words, I check that it's clean enough to load. I climb down into the ship's holds, have a good look around and direct any necessary cleaning. At the same time, I interact with the crew and meet all kinds of interesting people.

Inspections in search of the AGM on incoming ships are all about protecting Canada's environment—and for good reason. If this moth becomes well-established here, it would pose a serious risk to our environment and our economy by impacting trade with other countries. Native to Japan, China, Korea and far east Russia, this pest likes to hitch a ride on ships. Female moths lay eggs throughout the year, so our team checks that eggs are removed before the ship arrives in Canada and takes quick action if some were missed.

Ship inspections are our final line of defence before the products coming into our country are released. It's an important step in the process to ensure that the controls in place are effective.

While I still get out to do some ship inspections, I spend most of my time these days on plant pest surveillance. I lead a dedicated team that collects and records data on a range of pests, including the Asian longhorned beetle, blueberry maggot, light brown apple moth and emerald ash borer. We want to know where they are and where they are not by trapping insects, collecting samples of soil or plant tissue, observing plants, using laboratory diagnostics, and more.

We also administer surveys for the AGM, the newly renamed spongy (LDD) moth and Japanese beetle. The spongy moth and Japanese beetle are present in Ontario, Quebec, and most of the maritime provinces, and while they have not established in British Columbia, small populations do exist. Our surveys aim to pinpoint their location on the ground. We then share this information with the provincial government and other partners involved in eradication programs.

Protect your backyard, garden and community

While eradication programs have been effective, there is still work to do. All Canadians have a role to play in stopping the spread of invasive pests—and I promise it doesn't need to involve climbing aboard a ship!

The first step is awareness. Learn about invasive species and the environment where you live. Knowing what to look for will help you protect your backyard, garden and community from the damage caused by invasive plants and plant pests.

If you think you've come across something suspicious, report it to the CFIA.

You can also prevent the spread of invasive insects, plants and other plant pests by only buying or gathering local firewood and by planting native species.

Learn more

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