RECENT ANS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Western Regional Panel

The WRP is accepting presentation abstracts for the fall annual meeting!  Submit your abstract using the link below, or if you are unable to use Google Forms reach out to me directly. The Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species (WRP) is a regional group that advances AIS management issues by working collaboratively among state, federal, tribal, academic, business and non-profit entities (www.westernregionalpanel.org). The annual meeting is a place to share, discuss and learn about AIS issues across the west. The WRP will be holding their annual meeting September 21-22nd, 2022. The WRP is specifically seeking presentations that will address emerging technology and AIS threats, coastal AIS issues, and new AIS issues. Please provide a short abstract that describes the information you would like to share. Deadline for abstracts is May 1st, 2022.  The WRP Annual Meeting Planning Committee will review all abstract submissions and you will be informed of decisions by June 2022.  If you have any questions, contact WRP Coordinator Leah Elwell at leah@stopais.org Submit your abstract here (If you are unable to submit using Google Forms, please email Leah directly):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetSA7PwMrFL3a6MxdvKmFMXjgIjU2pp3QaDYoZzQBiYUKOBw/viewform?usp=sf_link

National Sea Grant College Program

The National Sea Grant College Program is currently developing its strategic plan for 2024-27. In order to inform its 2024-27 strategic plan, Sea Grant is hosting a series of listening sessions about the current strategic plan. There will be three listening sessions to discuss the strategic plan as a whole, and eight listening sessions on the specific focus area goals - one listening session per goal. Information on all of the sessions planned can be found HERE.  On the website you can also find a virtual comment card to share your ideas. 

North American Invasive Species Management Association

The NAISMA Standards and Technology Committee is interested in evaluating existing standards, protocols, and procedures for the field mapping of noxious weeds and invasive plants. If you or your organization performs mapping or monitoring of invasive plants and has a standard operating procedure or field protocol that you follow, please send a copy to Elizabeth Brown, Director of Government Relations and Professional Development, at ebrown@naisma.org.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

UPCOMING WEBINARS

NAISMA Monthly Webinars: NPS Integrated Pest Management Webinar Series

April 20, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - A Biocultural Approach to Integrating Indigenous Knowledge with Western Science for Invasive Species Management and Policy

May 18, 2022 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CDT - Using Community Based Social Marketing to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is recruiting a permanent GS-0482-12 Fish Biologist to serve as lead of the Aquatic Invasive Species Project Implementation Branch. The incumbent is responsible for the design, coordination, and operational aspects of a substantial portion of the FWCO’s biological program. This position provides supervision and leadership support, conducts biological surveys with specialized gears, possesses technical field expertise for fisheries work in rivers, expresses superior collaborative skills, and supports sound decision making for the preservation, rehabilitation and enhancement of fish populations to determine status and trends of invasive aquatic species.  Open & closing dates:  03/28/2022 to 04/08/2022. USA Jobs Announcement number: R3-22-11427260-RR-DE

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

None This Week

RECOMMENDED READING

Creating informed consumers of aquatic invasive species management programs through online education for non-professionals

Weber, M. M., Larkin, D. J., & Mulcahy, P. Creating informed consumers of aquatic 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 programs through online education for non-professionals. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 1-22.

ANS IN THE NEWS…            

Council of Agriculture launches pet management division

April 1, 2022. (Taiwan) - It will also be responsible for drafting a "white list" of animal species and breeds that can be kept as pets, based on the standards of animal welfare, human and animal safety, and the risk of the pets becoming invasive species.

Comprehensive effort — but no lock closures — announced to protect state waters from round goby fish

April 1, 2022. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Canal Corporation announced on March 24 a comprehensive effort to take action against the potential spread of the round goby to the Lake Champlain Basin.

More invasive suckermouth armored catfish removed from San Marcos River

April 1, 2022. Suckermouth armored catfish are aquarium fish that destroy native wildlife.

Talking Trout: Invasive Species in Georgia.

April 1, 2022. The most caught trout in North America, the rainbow trout, is invasive in many areas, primarily east of the continental divide. Native only to the west coast of North America, the rainbow trout is now found in all the contiguous states of America that have water that is cold and clean enough for the fish to survive.

Fighting invasive mussels comes with giant price tag

March 31, 2022. The mussels cost treatment plants, miners, aquaculture farms and industrial users in Montana US$300 per million gallons of water used

Local student creates comic book to educate children about invasive species

March 29, 2022. Sophia Noto has created an 18-page comic book called Invasive Species of New Jersey, which follows three children who learn about five invasive species in the region and the solutions to prevent them

New York state agency to develop 'rapid response' plan for invasive species

March 28, 2022. Officials with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are working with the State Canal Corporation to protect waterways from invasive species.

Supersized Goldfish Could Become Superinvaders

March 23, 2022. Ecologists at the University of Toronto and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) are now investigating if and how these ponds’ harsh, polluted environments are selecting for extra-tolerant fish—which might eventually manage to out-compete native species in the nearby Great Lakes.