Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force

Outreach

Many species introductions happen through the actions of uninformed individuals. For example, disposing of bait, launching contaminated recreational boats, aquarium releases, water garden escapes, and stocking a private pond can each lead to the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species. Robust public awareness and action programs help increase understanding about the impacts associated with ANS and guide people towards actions that can help prevent the introduction and spread of ANS. Education and outreach campaigns and initiatives should also facilitate on-the-ground action through stewardship programs and public events that directly connect individuals to management of ANS. Below are key resources developed by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, its members, regional panels, or subcommittees to educate about aquatic nuisance species and measures that can be taken to protest our waters from this threat:

Outreach:

• Outreach Subcommittee Charge Document – The mission of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Outreach Subcommittee is to coordinate and facilitate education, communications, and behavior change efforts to inform decision-makers and public and private sectors that manage aquatic nuisance species.
• National Invasive Species Outreach Campaign Assessment  (2022)  –  Conducted by Responsive Management for the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to determine the extent to which current national, regional, state, and local 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 campaigns are influencing the conservation related behaviors of water-based outdoor recreationists.
• National Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Workshop Summary Report  (2025) – Outcomes from the National Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Workshop was held as part of the North American Invasive Species Management Association Annual Conference in Missoula, Montana, October 1st, 2024.

• Assessing Risk Communication in the Pet and Aquarium Trade (2024)  – U.S. Geological Survey researchers evaluated whether outreach campaigns targeting pet owners are effectively reaching their desired audiences, namely pet owners who might unintentionally or purposefully release their pet into the wild.

National Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Campaigns

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Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!

The Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! campaign is a call to action that empowers recreational users of aquatic resources in the United States and other countries to help stop the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species through outreach and partnerships.


 

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Habitattitude 

This educational campaign addresses common concerns of private enterprise, state and federal natural resource agencies, and responsible pet owners: protecting our environment from the impacts of invasive species. Habitattitude seeks to inspire and empower people to explore the connection between responsible pet ownership and environmental stewardship.

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Don’t Let It Loose

Since 2012, Don't Let it Loose has been working to provide responsible rehoming information to pet owners who, for one reason or another, need to find another home for their pet.

Outreach Assessments

• Outreach Subcommittee Charge Document - The mission of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Outreach Subcommittee is to coordinate and facilitate education, communications, and behavior change efforts to inform decision-makers and public and private sectors that manage aquatic nuisance species.
• National Invasive Species Outreach Campaign Assessment (2022) – Conducted by Responsive Management for the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to determine the extent to which current national, regional, state, and local invasive species campaigns are influencing the conservation related behaviors of water-based outdoor recreationists.
• National Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Workshop Summary Report (2025) – Outcomes from the National Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Workshop was held as part of the North American Invasive Species Management Association Annual Conference in Missoula, Montana, October 1st, 2024.
• Assessing Risk Communication in the Pet and Aquarium Trade (2024) – U.S. Geological Survey researchers evaluated whether outreach campaigns targeting pet owners are effectively reaching their desired audiences, namely pet owners who might unintentionally or purposefully release their pet into the wild.

Outreach Guidelines

Commerce

• Mitigating the Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species in Commerce (2024)  - This project provides multiple solutions to address key areas that lead to aquatic invasive species issues associated with commerce and includes case studies, best practices, and industry and agency toolkits.
• Aquatic Invasive Species in Commerce, Model Regulatory Language to Address Priority Gaps (2024) - The model language provided in this report may be drawn upon by states and provinces seeking to strengthen elements of their AIS regulatory programs.

• Pet Store Employee Guidance to Respond to Hitchhikers in Shipments 

Classroom

• Classroom Guidelines for Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
• Adopting a Classroom Animal/Plant Pledge Form
• Adopting a Classroom Animal/Plant Pledge Form (Spanish version)

Recreational Activities:

• Voluntary Guidelines to Prevent the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species: Recreational Activities
• Voluntary Guidelines to Prevent the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species: Water Gardening
• Preventing the Spread of AIS By Recreational Boats – Model Legislative Provisions & Guidance to Promote Reciprocity Among State Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Programs 

Regional Products

• Traveling Trunk of Invasive Species – The Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel has an educational outreach awareness "Trunk" available for loan.  It is intended for use by conservation and environmental groups as well as secondary level educators.
• Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species - This field guide is designed to aid science professionals and other interested individuals in AIS early detection and reporting. This reference can help water conservation officers, regional biologists, volunteer monitors, resource managers, educators, students, and other professionals working in the Mid-Atlantic’s waters to learn general information about significant AIS, identify the problem species, collect specimens for verification, and report new infestations.
• Great Lakes Panel on ANS: Index of AIS Communication and Education Campaigns and Programs(2015)
• Guidelines for How to Staff AIS Booths at Public Events –  Prepared by: Doug Jensen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, AIS Prevention Planner (2025)Staffing booths at festivals, fairs and other events is an important way for reaching the public with aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention messages. This guidance is based on lessons learned, in part on tourism and hospitality training, observations, and tried and tested common sense approaches.
• Summary of Western States’ Aquatic Invasive Species Outreach Campaigns: Target Audiences, Messaging, Delivery, and Lessons Learned   (2021) – The Western Regional Panel conducted a survey of agencies in the Western states to gather and summarize information about AIS outreach campaign targeting, messaging, implementation, and evaluation as well as agency use of national AIS outreach campaign messaging/slogans and participation in national invasive species events.
• Full Report of Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Western States’ Aquatic Invasive Species Public Awareness Campaigns for Eliciting Desired Prevention Behaviors   (2022) – Evaluation of prevention outreach campaigns across Western Regional Panel member states and member organizations by analyzing the effectiveness of current and potential messaging and delivery methods to elicit desired behavior change from specific demographics.
• Social Media Guidelines to Promote Clean, Drain, Dry Behaviors Among the Recreational Boating Public(2025)–These social media guidelines provide a framework to consistently use behavior change strategies that influence recreational boaters to adopt clean, drain, dry practices.