November 2014 Meeting Information

Wednesday, November 5

• Put Model Legislation on ANSTF Web Site
• Provide a link to Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) resources on the ANSTF website
• Provide a WSFR briefing at the Fall 2014 Meeting
• AFWA has expressed an interest in expanding Caucus membership and communicating proactively.
  
  Erika Jensen offered to assist. Those interested in the ANSTF Outreach Committee should contact
  
  Doug Jensen or Elizabeth Brown.
• Outreach Committee will look at evaluating the effectiveness of SAH! And Habitattitude.
• Craig Martin will set up a webinar with ABYC to discuss the Boat Design Workshop proposal and funding need.
• Members interested in helping with NISAW contact Chris Dionigi
• Explore alternatives to the term Asian carps. Discuss at the next meeting?
• Laura Norcutt will let the members know when the website issues are corrected (expert database links).
• Bill Bolen and Kelly Baerwaldt will work with the FWS Communications Branch to enhance the
  
  eDNA Clearinghouse Proposal and present results at Fall 2014 meeting for ANSTF approval for the ANSTF
  
  website to host the eDNA Clearinghouse
• Provide comments on Pathways Diagrams to Stas Burgiel by June 30, 2014. Send copies to ANSTF.
• Stas Burgiel will provide the Climate Change Report to the ANSTF and request comments by July 31, 2014. 
  
  Send copies to ANSTF.
• The joint ANSTF Prevention Committee will determine best way to approach working with industry to develop
  
  Fracking BMP’s. (Interested include MAP, EPA)
  • Check to see if USCG is interested in participation
• Ballast Water Workshop Report will be posted on ANSTF website.
• ANSTF Panels need to let Laura know what vacancies exist on their respective Panels. Laura will
  
  follow-up to determine strategy about how to move forward.
• NOAA will work with the WRP to provide information on the Pacific states tunicate workshop.
• Provide comments on Lionfish Plan to James Ballard by June 8th, 2014.
• MRBP and MICRA will send out info for Diploid/Triploid Grass Carp report webinar information.
• Report to Congress
  • Provide accomplishment reports to Susan Pasko by June 10
  • Review draft report by end of July
  • Refine report and develop outreach plan with Congressional and communications folks (Peg offers to host)

Thursday, November 6

1. MAP recommends that the ANS Task Force request that federal agencies continue fiscal support for
   
   nutria eradication on the Delmarva Peninsula and in VA and NC to complete this project and protect the
   
   significant investment already made.

Great Lakes Panel:

1. While funding issues have been discussed at recent ANSTF meetings, we believe further action and immediate
   
   restoration of $10,000 to each of the regional panels is essential.

Northeast Panel:

1. Recommendation to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to restore at least $10,000 to each of the
   
   regional panels

Western Regional Panel recommendations:

1. Panel funding: Provide increased financial support to the panel(s).
2. QZAP support: Continue to provide funding to support highest priority implementation components of QZAP.

Joint Panel Recommendations from WRP and GSARP:

1. Request Government Accounting Office (GAO) to provide and updated economic study on the impacts of marine
   
   and freshwater AIS (plants, animals and pathogens).
2. Explore funding models similar to Sport Fish Restoration program or an industry consortium to fully fund panels
   
   and state plans.
3. Re-authorization of National Invasive Species Act/Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act.

Joint Panel Recommendations from WRP and MRBP:

1. Provide additional funding to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource to track the
   
   occurrences and distribution of aquatic invasive plants in the U.S. The USGS, through the NAS system, should be
   
   recognized as the lead organization to track the occurrence and distribution of aquatic invasive plants and animals
   
   in the U.S. Adequate funding is requested to enable the USGS to reinstate monitoring, reporting and mapping of the
   
   occurrence and distribution of aquatic invasive plants. This work was previously performed by the USGS but in recent
   
   years has been limited to invasive aquatic animals due to inadequate funding.

Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel Recommendations:

1. The GSARP and WRP recommend that the ANSTF ask the Government Accountability Office to provide an updated
   
   economic study (“Federal and Selected State Funding to Address Harmful, Nonnative Species” 2000
   
   http://www.gao.gov/archive/2000/rc00219.pdf) on marine and freshwater AIS.
2. The GSARP and WRP recommend that the ANSTF explore alternative funding models similar to the Sport Fish Restoration
   
   program or an industry consortium to fully fund panels and state plans.
3. The GSARP and WRP recommend that the ANSTF does everything in its power to support and expedite the re-authorization
   
   of NISA.
4. The GSARP recommends that the ANSTF sends a letter in support of the Environmental Law Institute’s efforts to host the
   
   “Halting the Lionfish in Texas” workshop. Attached you will find a letter of support that I drafted for the Panel. It would have
   
   to be modified to reflect that it was now coming from the ANSTF.

Mississippi River Basin Panel Recommendations:

1. Provide assistance to obtain more panel membership from private industry.
2. Provide additional funding to the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource to track the
   
   occurrences and distribution of aquatic invasive plants in the U.S.
3. Permanently fill the vacant Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Executive Secretary position.
4. Provide support and funding for the development of tools needed for eDNA monitoring of black carp and snakehead.