RECENT ANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force National Meeting

The meeting will be held January 11-12, 2023.The meeting will start at 9 am ET each day.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

UPCOMING WEBINARS

North American Invasive Species Management Association Webinar Series

January 18, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST - Webinar: The Blue Ribbon AIS Commission – Process, Participation and Final Report

An Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Commission was enacted over the last year by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, along with leading organizations in outdoor recreation and conservation A steering committee guided the work of the AIS Commission, while the core membership of the AIS Commission included representatives from entities with interest and expertise in the prevention, management, mitigation, and eradication of AIS, including NAISMA. The AIS Commission conducted a series of listening sessions to receive input from experts on various AIS-related topics that informed a final report with recommendations to collaboratively improve upon AIS management in the United States.

February 15, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST: Webinar: Miller Creek Watershed Restoration: The Value of Partnership During a Pandemic

Salmonids are critical components of the transitional boreal forest and temperate rainforests of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.  Alaska Natives and the local economy are dependent upon subsistence, recreational, and commercial fisheries that target these species.  Invasive Northern Pike (Esox lucius) (pike), which prey upon and threaten local salmonids, were thought to have been eradicated from the Kenai Peninsula across multiple waterbodies in early 2019 following a concerted multi-year effort by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).  A late 2019 report of a pike caught in Vogel Lake within the Miller Creek Watershed (MCW) isolated in the northern portion of the peninsula changed the narrative about the Kenai Peninsula being pike-free.  Covid-19 emerged during spring 2020 and the group had to pivot its approach to project planning to be done via multiple virtual meetings.  Eradication efforts took place in 2021 and restoration efforts began in 2022.  This project has been able to move forward utilizing the Early Detection Rapid Response approach to invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species management despite multiple challenges brought about by the pandemic.  An overview of the project and lessons learned thus far will be summarized.

March 15, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT: Webinar: Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species through PlayCleanGo and WorkCleanGo

PlayCleanGo®: Stop Invasive Species In Your Tracks® is NAISMA’s official, branded, registered, trademark-protected education and outreach program aimed at stopping the spread of invasive species through outdoor recreational pathways. The international campaign is grounded in a Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) strategy. NAISMA partners and PlayCleanGo supporters share prevention communication through social channels, as this proven outdoor recreation focused campaign aims to prevent the spread of invasive species by effecting behavior change and reminding recreationists to clean their gear every time they go to their favorite or a new recreation area. This is achieved through positive messaging that resonates with recreationists’ and field workers’ values, and includes a clear call to action to clean boots, boats, and other outdoor gear.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. This position represents a partnership between NYSWRI and the Invasive Species Coordination Section (ISCS) of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests and will act as an Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator (AIS) based within DEC Region 3 to proactively advance the management of AIS within this region. The ISCS is responsible for coordinating New York State’s comprehensive approach to all taxa of invasive species and for supporting programs via partnerships with state and federal agencies, academia, conservation organizations, private organizations, and the public. Major efforts include: prevention, early detection, facilitating responses, coordinating control and management projects at large-scales, coordinating and collaborating on research projects, and remaining current on invasive species detection and management techniques. The ISCS also serves as liaison to the NY Invasive Species Council (NYISC: established in statute; nine State agencies co-lead by the Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Agriculture and Markets) and the NY Invasive Species Advisory Committee (established in statute to advise the NYSIC; 25 non-governmental entities).

The AIS Coordinator will focus on work throughout NYSDEC Region 3, be housed at DEC offices in New Paltz, NY and work alongside DEC staff. ISCS will work closely with NYSWRI to provide guidance, oversight, and support for the Region 3 AIS Coordinator along with a weekly work plan. Full details and to apply click HERE.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

None this week.

RECOMMENDED READING

None the week.

AIS IN THE NEWS

Invasive species ‘hitchhiking’ on marine debris, study finds

January 9, 2023. Government-funded research has identified hotspots along the south west coast of England where invasive species may be making landfall after travelling across the Atlantic Ocean on marine debris.

Climate change is forcing wildlife to move north — and they're bringing diseases with them

January 9, 2023. More interaction between humans and wildlife like ticks mean rise in risk of spreading disease

Critics decry state’s approach to zebra mussels

January 8, 2023. The governor signed a law in 2020 to broaden GFP enforcement authority regarding invasive species but has been largely quiet on the issue the past two legislative sessions.

Tackling The Threat Of Invasive Species: How The European Union Is Working To Protect Biodiversity And Ecosystems

January 8, 2023. In recent years, the EU has become increasingly proactive in addressing the growing threat of invasive species to biodiversity and ecosystems. Invasive species are plants, animals and other organisms that have been introduced to an ecosystem outside of their natural range, and which have the potential to cause harm to the environment,

Transforming Hawaii’s invasive ‘rubbish fish” Into Gourmet Meals

January 7, 2023. Chivas or “Chevy” is from the YouTube channel popularly known as “FishNGrillz.” The channel’s content centers on food sustainability in Hawaii.

Prohibited live European green crabs confiscated in Washington

January 6, 2023. Washington state fisheries officials say they confiscated live European green crabs from a Seattle market that the seller was unaware were classified as a prohibited invasive species.

What Are Lionfish And How Do You Safely Cook Them?

January 6, 2023. From the warm waters of the United States down to the Caribbean islands, chefs and resorts are partnering with the organization to create awareness in an effort to cull the invasive species.

Crow Wing County seeks comments on proposed 2023 AIS Prevention Plan

January 6, 2023. The Crow Wing County Land Services Department is requesting public comments on the proposed 2023 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Plan.

Invasive rats transform reef fish behavior

January 5, 2023. Scientists have discovered for the first time that invasive rats on tropical islands are affecting the territorial behavior of fish on surrounding coral reefs. The new study shows that the presence of invasive black rats on tropical islands is causing changes in the territorial behavior of the jewel damselfish -- a herbivorous species of tropical reef fish that 'farm' algae in the branches of corals.

Maryland Eradicates Invasive Rodent Species Nutria at the Cost of $30 Million, Fears of Reinvasion Still Linger

December 27, 2022. Maryland has been freed of the invasive Nutria that it had been plagued by for decades. The procedure cost $30 million, but the worry of reinvasion persists because the rodent species may still be close to the region's borders.