Download Marine invasive species: Lessons, challenges and achievements

Marine Invasive Species: Lessons, Challenges, and Achievements
Davis, Tammy
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1255 W. 8th St. Juneau, AK 99801
[email protected]
Marine invasive species represent a growing problem due to the unprecedented rate of their
introduction and the unexpected impacts they have on the environment, economy and human
health. Management of marine invaders is known to be rife with challenges, with relatively few
eradication projects ending in successful elimination of the invader. Controlling organisms in the
marine environment is complicated and costly. There are numerous cases where no management
actions are taken, perhaps because the species is too widespread prior to detection, it isn’t
economically or environmentally feasible to control, or the control options available would result
in more harm than the presence of the invader.
Prior to 2010, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), along with other agencies
and individuals, had been monitoring for marine invasive species in coastal communities of
Alaska. When a new aquatic invader, Didemnum vexillum, was detected during a marine
invasive species bioblitz in Sitka, Alaska, ADF&G and partners shifted from early detection to
response. Initial objectives were to assess the distribution of the new species, develop a
management plan, provide outreach, and prevent the spread of the organism to new areas.
Broader goals were to control the tunicate within the embayment it which it was detected.
During the past three years, there has been valuable collaboration, successes, and new
challenges. ADF&G continues to focus on management objectives relating to invasive tunicate,
D. vexillum, in Whiting Harbor.
Marine Invasive Species: Lessons, Challenges, and Achievements
Davis, Tammy
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1255 W. 8th St. Juneau, AK 99801
[email protected]
Alaska Invasive Species Conference
November 5-7, 2013
Tammy Davis
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Invasive Species Program
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General Challenges
• Marine challenges
Vectors for transmittal of species
• Focus on Didemnum vexillum
• Accomplishments
• Lessons
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Policymakers and managers must choose what strategies to
employ and how much to invest in order to
• Prevent new introductions,
• Monitor for new invasions,
• Control established invaders.
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Limited understanding of how to quantify or value damage
• Value of the environment, diversity, ecosystem functions,
• Area of assessment,
• Uncontrolled spread can lead to exponential increase in damages.
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Difficult to accurately predict
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Funding for research limited
Which species will establish
Impacts they will impose,
Role climate change will play in expanding suitable habitat
Invasive species cross political/jurisdictional boundaries,
coordination among multiple entities exacerbates the
difficulties of control.
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 Prevention-
Limited regulations to limit
introduction
 Early detection
 Impacts not immediately observable
 Net cost of impacts not easily defined
 Policy gaps
 Enforcement
 Control is rife with challenges:
• Limited research
• More expensive than land-based efforts
• Technical resources required
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Global shipping
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An estimated 10,000 marine species are transported around the
world in ballast water every day. (Carlton, 1996.)
Commercial barges, cruise ships, fishing vessels,
recreational watercraft
Offshore exploration or drilling platforms
Mariculture/Aquaculture
Live seafood trade
Movement of infrastructure-docks, harbor fingers,
Ornamental/exotic pet trade and feed
Floatplanes
Natural dispersal- incl. tsunami debris
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Didemnum vexillum- Fouling
Botrylloides violaceus-Fouling
Botryllus schlosseri-Fouling
• NOT PRESENT
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Carcinus maenas- Natural dispersal
Spartina spp.- Natural dispersal
Undaria pinnatifida
Solitary tunicates: Styela clava, Ciona
intestinalis, others
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Colonial tunicate found
growing on nets used in
the production of oysters
Whiting Harbor is a man-made embayment
located adjacent to the Sitka airport and near
the USCG base.
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Distribution of Didemnum vexillum, west coast of North America with
worldwide distribution on inlaid map.
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 2010:
First detection during BioBlitz.
 2010- present: Outreach to aquatic farmers, agencies,
stakeholder groups, the public.
 2010- 2012: ADF&G annual survey to map distribution,
coordinate response team, decommission aquatic farm.
 2011 & 2012: Restrict commercial and subsistence
fisheries access and request public avoid the area.
 2012: Rapid Response Plan completed, CIP funding.
 2013: Buoys to keep public out, Request for Proposals
 Present- Treatment trials, final material to be removed.
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Whiting Harbor, Sitka
Man-made embayment adjacent to the Sitka Airport
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All infested hanging lantern nets were bagged and
removed in September 2011. In the area of the farm
where the greatest amount of D. vexillum had been
detected, even bags with no conspicuous growth
were bagged and removed.
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 Actions
by area:
• Australia-Attempt to eradicate on artificial substrates
as well as the seafloor. - Varied success
• Washington- Eradication of small infestation at a manmade recreational dive reef, control at a number of
harbors. Resources eliminated in recent years.
• Great Britain- Mechanical control at marinas, larger
areas control unfeasible; education and policy
development. Varied success
• British Columbia- No control efforts; research ongoing
• Oregon- Planning phase, no efforts thus far
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 Specific
challenges
• Location is a patchwork of ownership, including
state and federal agencies, adjacent to an airport
and USCG station. Multi-agency actions take time.
• Limitation of proven methods to implement
• Resources- funding, staffing, partners
• Pathway management
• Understanding feasible outcomes.
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 Outreach to the community & stakeholders
• Consistent messaging in the media
 Concerted effort to reduce potential spread
• Closure of fisheries
• Restrict movement of boats
 PSAs, signage, buoys
 Removal of infested infrastructure
 Planning to remove last remaining structure-
weatherport
 Working toward development of treatment
trials
• Challenge- RFP no proposals. Amending scope of
work to address feedback: deliverables and schedule
• Review and update of policies improve prevention
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 Collaboration is key but takes time
 Invasive species aren’t a priority…until
they
are,
 Mother Nature waits for no one, and
especially not funding,
 Rapid response doesn’t mean the same thing
to everyone,
 Must get engagement from stakeholders:
public and private,
 Lack of funding results in loss of momentum,
 Managers and scientist must work together
 PREVENTION…May be difficult to achieve.
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