Rhode Island Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan

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Rhode IslandAquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement
Plan

• CRMC Coastal Education Series
• Narragansett Bay Commission Meeting Room
• October 23, 2007
• 600 PM
• Kevin R. Cute
• Marine Resources Specialist
• Coastal Resources Management Council

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Definition
• Invasive species means an alien species
• whose introduction does or is likely to cause
• economic or environmental harm or harm
• to human health
• - Executive Order 13112 Invasive Species

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Introduction Vectors
• Ballast Water (commercial shipping)
• Recreational Boating, Fishing, Bait Industry
• Research Institutions and Public Aquaria
• Aquarium, Water Garden Trade
• Seafood Import and Sale
• Aquaculture
• Internet

www.providence.edu/megaport/ballast.htm

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Ecological Roulette
• Not all introduced species survive
• Not all survivors become invasive
• However
• The small fraction that becomes invasive causes
• enormous economic and environmental
• damage
• SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND
  STANDARDS
• COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, U.S. HOUSE OF
  REPRESENTATIVES

OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Impacts
• High control costs
• Public health threats
• Degraded water quality
• Altered native ecosystems
• Diminished property values
• Economic impacts on aquaculture
• Decline in finfish and shellfish populations
• Recreational losses swimming, boating, fishing

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance
• Species Prevention and Control
• Act of 1990
• Ballast Water
• Great Lakes Panel
• Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• National Invasive Species Act 1996
• Western Regional Panel
• Other Regional Panels
• State AIS Management Plans

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan
Our Mission is to Protect the Marine and
Freshwater Resources of the Northeast from
Aquatic Invasive Species through Commitment and
Cohesive Coordinated Action http//www.northeas
tans.org/
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• CRMC and the NEANS Panel
• Charter Member (2001)
• Co-Chair NEANS Panel (Marine Chair)
• Co-Chair Shipping Committee
• Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species Council
  501(c)(3) non-profit to manage NEANS Panels
  finances

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• NEANS Panel Members and Committees
• New England States, New York, New Brunswick, Nova
  Scotia, Quebec
• Committees
• Communications, Education and Outreach
• Science and Technology
• Policy and Legislation
• Shipping

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• NEANS Panel State AIS Mgt. Plans
• Approved State AIS management plans
• Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maine
• Approved Interstate AIS management plans
• Lake Champlain Watershed Basin

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• State AIS Management Plans
• Federal Grant Provides 50k/year
• Federal Cost Share 75
• Non-Federal Share May be Cash or In-Kind

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Goals of the RIAIS Mgt. Plan
• Prevent Introduction and Establishment of AIS
• Control Growth and Spread of AIS
• Abate Impacts and Minimize Harmful Effects of AIS

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Objectives of the RI AIS Mgt. Plan
• Coordination and Communication
• Monitoring
• Education, Outreach, Training
• Research and Development
• Planning and Assessments
• Prevention and Control
• Legislation and Regulation

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
• Native Range Eurasia
• Introduced 1988
• Vector Ballast Water (Spread by sport fishing)
• Impacts Harmful Algal Blooms, Threat to Drinking
  Water Supply, Alters Ecosystem, High Control
  Costs to Public Utilities

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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan
1988 Distribution
USGS
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan
2005 Distribution
USGS
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
• Native Range Africa
• Introduced 1960
• Vector Aquarium Trade
• Impacts Outcompetes Native Species, Alters
  Ecosystem, Recreational Losses, High Control
  Costs

Photo Vic Ramey
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan

• Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
• Native Range China
• Introduced 1992 (west coast) 2005 (east coast)
• Vector Ballast Water (Spread by intentional
  release?)
• Impacts Commercial Fisheries, Habitat Loss,
  Public Utilities

www.serc.si.edu
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RI Aquatic Invasive SpeciesManagement Plan