May 2024 Meeting Minutes

On May 8-9, 2024, the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) held a two-day in-person and virtual meeting. Action items are listed below, followed by a summary of the meeting.

Decisional Items

1. The ANSTF approved the updated and revised European Green Crab Management Plan. 
2. The ANSTF approved the New Jersey state ANS Management Plan.

Action Items

1. Executive Secretary will prepare instructions how to complete the survey to inform the Legislative Gap Report to Congress. ANSTF Chairs will distribute this email and survey to Task Force Federal Members. 
2. Executive Secretary will follow up with Department of Transportation and Western Regional Panel regarding the recommendation to develop AIS language within interstate transportation permit applications.
3. Executive Secretary will work with the U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency to develop a charge that defines the scope of work, timeline, and potential membership, and structure structure
   Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
   
   Learn more about structure for a workgroup to assist the development of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) Intergovernmental Response Framework.
4. Executive Secretary and NOAA will work with the US Coral Reef Task Force to explore establishing a joint working group focused on the invasive soft coral issue in the Pacific and Caribbean. Recommendations for the scope and structure of the group will be communicated at the next meeting.
5. Executive Secretary will work with the Control Subcommittee to review their recommendation on a Genetic Biocontrol Subcommittee to determine potential next steps.  A recommended approach will be presented at the next ANSTF meeting.
6. Executive Secretary will distribute recommendations from the joint Invasive Species Advisory Committee / ANS Task Force Early Detection Rapid Response Framework Advisory Group to Task Force members and panels. Comments will be sent to the Early Detection Rapid Response Subcommittee for consideration. 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Welcome

Dave Miko (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)), introduced himself, welcomed the attendees and thanked them for attending virtually. 

Dave Miko reviewed the agenda, which was distributed to registered participants and posted on the ANS Task Force website and in the meeting chat. Topics on the agenda included a focus on issues of special importance to the northeast region, including the invasion of Hydrilla to Connecticut and Massachusetts lakes and rivers, marine assessments, and the Champlain canal as a pathway for aquatic invaders. The next day will focus on outreach, early detection and rapid response, and control. We will hear presentations on the influence of AIS brands on prevention behaviors, ballast water management, grass carp response efforts, and invasive soft coral introductions in the Pacific and Caribbean.

Debbie Lee from NOAA introduced herself. 

Kimberly Jensen of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation introduced herself and went over meeting logistics. She also announced there would be a public comment period at the end of the second day of the meeting.

Introductions

Roll call was taken of ANS Task Force membership. The complete list of attendees follows.

Adoption of Agenda, Approval of Minutes, Status of Action Items

There was a motion to adopt the agenda, and it was seconded.  There was no discussion. The agenda was approved. 

Debbie Lee called for approval of the minutes from the January 2024 meeting. They were distributed to all members electronically and posted on the website. There was a motion to approve the minutes, and a second. There was no discussion. The minutes were approved.

Presentation: 2022-2023 Signals of Climate Change and Biological Invasions in New England and the Mid-Atlantic: Caribbean Creep and Chesapeake Creep

James Carlton (Williams College Coastal & Ocean Studies Program) began his presentation by outlining the significant ecological shifts observed in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions due to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.

Learn more about climate change . He introduced the concepts of "Caribbean Creep" and "Chesapeake Creep," referring to the northward movement of southern marine species into these areas as a result of warming waters. Caribbean Creep describes the northward migration of species typically found in the warmer waters of the Caribbean Sea into the mid-Atlantic and New England regions. This phenomenon is driven primarily by rising sea temperatures, which create hospitable conditions for these species further north than their traditional ranges​.

The Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) teams employed a combination of traditional sampling methods and advanced technologies like high-resolution underwater cameras and genetic barcoding. These techniques enhanced the accuracy of species identification and allowed for comprehensive documentation of species distributions​. The survey recorded several Chesapeake Bay species extending their range into New England waters. This includes various invertebrates and algae that have started to colonize habitats in these regions​. Among the species observed moving north are the large mushroom-shaped sea squirt Distaplia and the golf-ball-sized sea squirt Styela plicata. These species, previously limited to more tropical waters, have been recorded as far north as Virginia and Maryland​. Professor Carlton highlighted the role of rising sea temperatures in facilitating these species migrations. Warmer waters reduce thermal barriers that previously limited the northward spread of tropical and subtropical species​. The introduction of these species into new areas can disrupt local ecosystems. Native species may face increased competition for resources, and there may be changes in predator-prey dynamics. Biofouling communities, consisting of invasive sea squirts and seaweeds, have shown significant growth, affecting marine infrastructures​​.

Presentation: Marine Rapid Assessment Survey 2023 and 2024

Alexis Neffinger, Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Specialist at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone management, began the presentation by providing background definitions, vectors, and impacts relating to marine bioinvasions, providing context for the recurring Marine Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) initiative.  Definitions were presented to compare and contrast the terms “introduced” and “range-expanding species” – both of which are of interest to scientists attending the RAS. Ballast water discharge, ship fouling, and marine debris were each highlighted as key vectors facilitating the continued and increasing introductions of nonindigenous marine species.

 Alexis highlighted the unique difficulty of managing marine bioinvasions, and the complicated, often futile challenge of controlling invasions once species have become established. She emphasized the need for proactive management approaches that mitigate new species introductions, such as ballast water management, and public outreach campaigns.

Scientists are interested in monitoring and documenting non-native, introduced, and native marine species along the U.S. coasts. She noted that long-term monitoring surveys play a critical role in understanding the impacts of climate change and increased shipping traffic on marine biodiversity. The 2023 RAS focused on the northern New England region, spanning from Maine to Massachusetts. The primary goal was to monitor biofouling species, which are organisms like sea squirts and seaweeds that attach to submerged surfaces. Nine marinas were monitored by the survey team over the course of one week. The survey involved extensive sampling and laboratory analysis to accurately identify species. This effort marked the eighth time the survey has been conducted since 2000, reflecting a long-term commitment to understanding marine bioinvasions​. 

James Carlton, Professor of Marine Sciences Emeritus at Williams College, continued the presentation by highlighting key finding from the 2023 RAS. High-level takeaways included that approximately 25 nonindigenous species (NIS) were identified across sites, that aspect-dominant taxa differed between each of the 9 sites, and no site supported only native species. Only one of the nine sites did not support NIS as the aspect dominant taxa. This site, in Georgetown, Maine, was also the lowest salinity, coldest site. These environmental conditions supported largely native hydroids, sea anemones, bivalves, and Polychaete worms.

Biofouling communities differed between sites north and south of Cape Cod. Colder waters in the Gulf of Maine supported fouling communities with a Mytilus mussel base and native and nonindigenous hydroids, bryozoans, anemones, ascidians, caprellids, kelp and other algae, and more. The warmer waters south of Cape Cod, in contrast, supported sea squirts (ascidians) and bryozoans as the base of the fouling community. He discussed the impact of biofouling communities on marine infrastructures. The presence of invasive sea squirts and seaweeds on docks, piers, and boat hulls has increased maintenance requirements and posed challenges for coastal management. The survey's findings provide valuable data for understanding impacts to the integrity of marine infrastructure​. James highlighted the discovery of a sizable population of European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis, in Bourne, MA. This finding is the first confirmation of an established population in southern New England. However, he noted that regional biologists and others who work closely with coastal ecosystems often have vast, unpublished information on NIS records. Outreach and interfacing with these groups may lead to increased understanding of NIS presence and abundance through time.

A new NIS – the encrusting bryozoan, Schizoporella japonica ­– was identified during the 2023 RAS at two sites spanning the Gulf of Maine. This is the first record of the species along the US Atlantic coast. Potential impacts of introduced encrusting bryozoans include harmful growth on native species, like kelp, and nuisance fouling of coastal infrastructure and equipment. He highlighted the importance of recurring surveys, like the RAS, to documenting new species introductions and preparing coastal communities for potential impacts of these new NIS.

The importance of informed policy decisions based on the survey's findings was highlighted. The data collected from the RAS informs regional and national policies aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and mitigating the economic impacts of 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 . Collaboration with policymakers and stakeholders is crucial for the successful implementation of these measures. The RAS supports a comprehensive, long-term dataset of fouling communities in New England, documents shifting community composition with climate change and new species introductions or range expansions, and tracks range and abundance expansions of both introduced species and native southern species moving poleward. The RAS additionally provides an opportunity to train students in taxonomy and field monitoring techniques.  The next RAS survey will be conducted in the summer of 2024 and encompasses the Narragansett Bay to Staten Island region. This survey will continue supporting the long-term monitoring goals of the RAS, and scientists will be vigilant in documenting potential Ostrea edulis populations and an anemone species of interest.

James Carlton concluded her presentation by reaffirming the commitment of the RAS team and partners to continue the critical work of monitoring and managing invasive species. He thanked the survey participants, funding organizations, and supporting institutions for their contributions to this essential research. The meeting attendees were encouraged to review the detailed findings and reports available through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and other related websites for further information on the survey results and their implications for coastal management.

The 2023 survey was supported by various organizations, including the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership, and the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership. Hosting facilities included the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy​.

Updates: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, New Species Occurrences 

Ian Pfingsten (U.S. Geological Survey) presented updates regarding the capabilities of the U.S Geological Survey Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) database. Ian discussed initiatives to make the database fully publicly available. As well as process of taking in reports from the public to identify and report on non-native aquatic species in US waters, including territorial islands. He also detailed online real-time maps, distribution maps, and the ability to query trusted data, comprised of verified data or data from trusted sources.  Sources are cited throughout the database. Spatial datasets of the biological landscape are created as needed for users and the agency. are used to contribute to scientific reports. The program is working on horizon scans that identify species as they move into the United States. 

Ian presented updated species numbers, primarily taxa, some subspecies and hybrids. The current number is 1,410, with over 700,000 records on the database verified. Taxa breakdown: fish taxa, plants, other vertebrates, invertebrates, crustaceans, mollusks.  An alert system has been developed, which currently has close to 1,000 users. The system lets the public know about new introductions or sightings of established, or possibly established, wild populations of nonindigenous invasive species in US waters in a new location. The alert system can be specified to the country, a state, a county level, or a watershed level. 

76 new alerts have been generated since the previous meeting on January 24^th, 2024. Four alerts occurred at the national level, new to the United States, a couple new to the individual states, and one to the drainage level. Of the taxonomic groupings, most were plants, including some algae and fishes, followed by mollusks, reptiles, one crustacean, and one jelly. Of the sources for this data, 49 came from literature sources and 15 came from sighting reports. The sighting reports are filed through the USGS database website. Literature sources include news, press releases, scientific journals, museum specimen records, and academics. 

New species in these alerts include: the redhump eartheater, Geophagus Steindachneri, found in central Puerto Rico. Along with this species, a number of other interesting fish species are being released in Puerto Rico and warrant a proper survey. Another such species in the banded jewelfish, which originates in western Africa, also known as Hemichromis fasciatus, and was found in eastern Puerto Rico. This is the first proper U.S. sighting of this species. Further species likely being spread by trade and pet releases include the blackwood turtle, native to Central America around Nicaragua and Honduras. Another species of turtle sighted in the past year is the big-headed turtle, which is native to Southeast Asia and southern China. This is a critically threatened species that is being distributed by pet dealers. New state sightings include the red rim Melania, Melanoides tuberculata, which was found for the first time in Washington state, in the northwest of the state and the Cottonwood Creek drainage. First sighting on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, the round goby, which appears to be making its way south down the Mississippi River. The sighting of this species this far south is significant. Black carp have been sighted in the Pickwick Lake reservoir drainage systems in Tennessee and collected by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Impacts are wide-ranging and affect local wildlife and human health. 

A new product live on the NAS database and available to the public is the eDNA in NAS, or the E-NAS, which comprises genetic material that has been sloughed, excreted, or otherwise released into the environment and can be detected in water, soil, and air. An overview of operating the product was provided. 

Hydrilla Session: 

Presentation: Hydrilla in the Connecticut River

Summer Stebbins, aquatic biologist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, presented information regarding the invasion of Hydrilla into the Connecticut River from 2016 to 2024. Starting in 2016, a genetically distinct strain of Hydrilla was discovered in the Connecticut River. Summer detailed a multi-state effort to discover the origination of the invasion. The northernmost population of Hydrilla was determined to be located in Agawam, Massachusetts and extends from there through Connecticut to within a mile of Long Island Sound. 

Between 2019 and 2020, the US Army Corps of Engineers conducts survey training in the area and Northeast Aquatic Nuisance Species Panel developed a five-year management plan and CAES developed an online web application for tracking the invasion. The management plan is available on the NEANS website. Established in April of 2002, the plan provides an outline of the history of the infestation as well as all of the different partners involved in the different states, as well as management and outreach recommendations. Updates are provided on the website as they develop with regard to what actions have been taken in accordance with the plan. Almost 1000 acres of Hydrilla have been mapped from Agawam, MA to Long Island Sound and surrounding river tributaries. All of this data has been added to the online web application, allowing stakeholders and managers to reference the status of the infestation. 

In 2021, the first round of preliminary management testing began. Benthic blanket test and dye treatments were tested. Initial results were promising and established that the methods were effective for removing Hydrilla from the river. Beginning in 2022, funding for these efforts was increased following greater public awareness of the Hydrilla infestation. Summer thanks the US Army Corps of Engineers and NEANS for their work. 

In 2023, the first establishment of this new strain of Hydrilla was found outside of the Connecticut River system. Summer noted the publishing a new paper on Hydrilla by Dr. Nic Tippery where three subspecies of Hydrilla found in North America were named and described: subspecies peregrina or wandering hydrilla; a dioecious strain that's common in the southeastern United States, subspecies verticillata, whorled Hydrilla; and the Connecticut River strain, subspecies lithuanica,or northern hydrilla. Following this, hydrilla strains began to be found in other lakes. Press coverage of the issue has raised public awareness, which has resulted in an influx of public reports and samples being sent in for examination. In total, hydrilla was found in six additional bodies of water: East Twin Lake, Middle Bolton Lake, Amos Lake, Pameacha Pond, Lake Pocotopaug, and the Congamond Lakes in Massachusetts. 

Regarding future work planned, boat ramp surveys, carbon cycling projects, internal work, and species surveys are scheduled. Boat ramp surveys are scheduled for the next two years throughout the state. Also in the works is the development of the Continuous Aquatic Plant Tracking and Imaging Network, or CAPTAIN. The goal of this program is to develop machine learning to be able to detect Hydrilla from drone images and to track how Hydrilla infestations change over time. 

The carbon cycling project is a joint project with scientists from Michigan State University to look into the effects that Hydrilla is having on the carbon cycle of the Connecticut River. Hydrilla holds both CO2 and bicarbonate, which is an interesting link in terms of which source of carbon the Hydrilla is using more of and how that effects the broader carbon cycle. Information from this study, including water quality samplings, will consider the effectiveness of herbicide treatments for Hydrilla. The species surveys will continue work on previous studies conducted in 1994 and 1997 to see how the Hydrilla population has changed over time and what impacts there have been on the native ecosystem. 

Presentation: Invasion of Hydrilla to Massachusetts Lakes and Rivers

David Wong, of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, details the expanse of Hydrilla's infestation into New York, Massachusetts, and the rest of the New England area. Massachusetts contains 33 watersheds, which contain over 3,000 lakes and ponds and tens of thousands of river miles. Among the 3,000 lakes and ponds, over 700 lakes are infested by invasive species. There are 19 systematically documented invasive species. 

The first Hydrilla infestation in Massachusetts was documented in 2001 in Cape Cod at Long Pond. The second was documented in 2008. The third was documented in 2010 also in Cape Cod at Mystic Lake. The fourth and fifth infestations were documented in 2015 in two neighboring ponds in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Moving to central Massachusetts, the next infestation was documented in three ponds in the town of Clinton, in 2016. Following these documentations, the next Massachusetts infestation was documented in the Connecticut River and the Three Mile River, one of its tributaries. Following these discoveries, the next infestation was documented in the Mystic River watershed near the town of Woburn in a very small pond in 2019. The next infestation was documented in the Congamond Lakes, as previously mentioned by Summer Stebbins, in 2023. The Congamond Lakes straddle both Connecticut and Massachusetts. In total, there are 12 confirmed water bodies that have documented Hydrilla infestation. Despite this documentation, not all samples have been properly categorized for species and taxa. 

In Massachusetts, a program called the Chemical Application License Program receives about 500 applications for licenses to apply pesticide to water bodies to manage Hydrilla infestation. The most commonly used chemical is Endothall for ponds in Massachusetts. These 12 infested water bodies are within six watersheds from Cape Cod and the Boston Harbor watershed, which lead to the Nashua River watershed and Connecticut River watersheds. Therefore, public communication outreach focuses on advising recreational boaters to help reduce or avoid the spread of Hydrilla within these watersheds. 

Beyond Hydrilla, by the 1800s there were 6 documented invasive species documented. By 1980, there were 5 additional documented invasive species. From 1990, an additional 8 species were documented. From the year 1620, when settlers arrived at Plymouth, to the early 1990s, only 11 invasive species were introduced and documented. Within the past 20 to 30 years, an additional 8 invasive species were introduced to and documented in Massachusetts waters. 

Hydrilla was the sixteenth invasive species to be introduced to Massachusetts, chronologically. Among the 11 species documented from 1800 to 1900, only one species from the tropical and sub-tropical regions was introduced to Massachusetts. At present, the 4 of the latest 8 invasive species originate from tropical, sub-tropical, or temperate, warmer regions. It was previously believed, as late as the 1970s, that the northern boundary of Asian clam infestation was New Jersey. This is because of rising mean temperatures throughout the continent. Aside from the Asian clam, this has resulted in the proliferation of more and more invasive sub-tropical and tropical species.  Additional, more detailed information related this to topic is available in Mr. Wong's recently published book, Invasive Animals and Plants in Massachusetts' Lakes and Rivers.

Presentation: Connecticut River Hydrilla Field Research Demonstration 

Keith Hannon and Benjamin Sperry (US Army Corps of Engineers) described the goals and current work Connecticut River Hydrilla Field Research Demonstration project, which is being led by the Corps of Engineers Research and Development Sector. The US Corps of Engineers involvement with hydrilla infestation began because there are not any local eradication programs based in Connecticut. Stakeholders along the lower Connecticut River are seeking aggressive eradication and management for Hydrilla, as the river is an important economic and environmental resource. Members of Congress from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont specifically requested that the Corps get involved with hydrilla eradication and management, notably with direct Congressional funding in 2023 and 2024. 

The project objectives include implementing science to protect public and environmental safety, conducting research to develop and evaluate best management practices, and to ultimately do technology transfer to local entities to implement the best management practices developed through research. Public safety remains the primary objective, specifically with regard to the use of approved pesticides, with the goal of protecting the Connecticut River, its tributaries, and restoring ecological and economic benefits which have been impacted by hydrilla infestations. 

Five locations throughout the affected area were chosen to be part of the demonstration project.

Three public meetings have been scheduled in May and June of 2024 for public outreach. The goal of the meetings is to educate the public with regard to the Corps goals, give the public the opportunity to ask questions and understand the Corps' goals. The Corps is in preliminary discussions with Massachusetts to expand their project in the state. 

In 2023, field research was completed which included chronology studies and sampling, technical studies involving dye studies to understand the water flow dynamics of the area. Bathymetric surveys were completed, along with critical and endangered species studies. In 2024, the demonstration portion of the project will begin, which is treatment with herbicides followed by post-treatment monitoring, which will continue for up to two years. 

Presently, the Corps is dealing with a new clade or strain of Hydrilla in the Connecticut River. In determining optimal management techniques, the Corps has been presented with unique challenges in the Connecticut River, in that the river is considered hydrodynamically complex, which is very important for submerged herbicide treatments. To combat these challenges, the Corps has adapted an applied research approach whose end goal is to develop and verify operational tools that the end user, local entities, will use. The Corps is using a systematic, or tiered, research approach. Step one in the process is site-specific water exchange evaluations. Plant phenology is used to record the major life cycle events of Hydrilla. By understanding the reproductive modes of the invasive species allows the Corps to adapt its management techniques to attack the plant prior to those reproductive events to slow the spread and persistence. 

Presentation: Triple Threat: Hydrilla and Aetokthonos + Bromide = More Than an "Eagle Killer" Toxin

Susan Bennett Wilde (University of Georgia) describes the process by which avian vacuolar myelinopathy was first noted in 1994 in DeGray Lake, Arkansas and provided updates regarding research into the phenomenon. The cyanobacteria that produce the toxin that causes avian vacuolar myelinopathy, as well as the town itself, have finally been fully described. The disease was initially documented in herbivorous waterfowl and birds of prey due to repeated failures to nest in affected reservoirs. Novel lesions in the brains of affected eagles and herbivorous waterfowl were used to narrow down the affected locations, where Hydrilla infestations were found. The cyanobacteria that produce the toxin was found growing on the Hydrilla itself. The cyanobacteria grows so prolifically that it is sometimes visible to the naked eye on the Hydrilla leaves. Generally, epifluorescent microscopy is used to detect and observe the cyanobacterial pigments. 

As the link between aetokthonos cyanobacteria was studied and tracked, it was found to extend all the way south to Florida as of 2019. Likewise, an expansion of the taxa affected by aetokthonos has been observed. All observed exposed taxa have been found to be susceptible to illness from exposure to the cyanobacteria following ingestion of Hydrilla or exposure to it. Salamanders and other amphibians are particularly negatively affected by the cyanobacteria.  An invasive apple snail in Florida has been observed to consume large quantities of hydrilla and is currently displacing native apple snail species. The snails, once consumed by chickens, introduce the cyanobacteria and can cause avian vacuolar myelinopathy in the birds. 

Maps were presented which showed potential habitat impact for birds should hydrilla infest regional waterways. Through this research, evidence has shown that hydrilla is being introduced to new watersheds and reservoirs not just by human means. Following hydrilla eradication and management, evidence shows that successful nesting activity resumes and flourishes in affected areas. 

In order to the find the aetokthonos and the associated toxin, research started with bioassays. The best bioassay observed was the larval zebrafish, because they share so much human genetic material that the make a very fast and accurate way of seeing whether or not the toxin will be a problem for human consumption. During this research, it was noted early on that there were two toxins that were coming from aetokthonos, aetokthonotoxin and a water-soluble toxin, aetokthonostatin, which may exacerbate the effect of the first toxin. Mortality in bird species was observed when the toxin molecule was produced in the presence of bromide. This information was derived from culture studies. Autumn pulses of bioavailable bromide have been observed, which trigger the production of the brominated compound. Similar effects in fish, birds, and amphibians have been observed, including motor control dysfunction. 

Hydrilla has been found to hyper-accumulate bromide in places like Lake Okeechobee in Florida, without the associated growth of aetokthonos. In the Thurmond Reservoir between Georgia and South Carolina, bromide is found in plants and sediments, but not in the water itself, along with aetokthonos growth, which indicates that the bioavailability of the bromide is key for the growth of aetokthonos. Once bromide was added to cultures of the cyanobacteria, spikes of aetokthonos toxin were observed. The toxin molecule is considered a unique molecule by experts, as it is a penta-brominated indole alkaloid with a novel nitrile group. The molecule is highly lipid-soluble and persistent.  Following this research, it has been established that this toxin is present in the flesh of fish that humans consume. It is unknown as of yet if the toxin will affect humans will be affected in similar ways, but evidence suggests it is possible. It has been demonstrated that trophic transfer happens, and the toxin has enough water-solubility to be blood-brain barrier permeable. The genetic code that enables the production of the toxin molecule has been defined using PCR, which will allow researchers to determine if the cyanobacteria that produces the toxin is present in a given sample. 

Currently, students at the University of Georgia are studying the effects of aetokthonotoxin on wood duck survival and reproduction rates. The toxin is being observed and studied in eggs found in failed nests. Students are also working on studying the effects on mammals. Additional ongoing research is being done on beavers in affected regions. Similar lesions have been found in sick and dead beavers. Sick mountain lions have been studied and found to contain aetokthonotoxin in their tissues. Ongoing work is underway to continue detecting and cataloguing aetokthonotoxin prevalence and spread. 

Presentation: Addressing the Champlain Canal as an AIS Pathway

Meg Modley, the aquatic invasive species management coordinator for the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, began the presentation by describing her team's efforts to manage effect controls and mitigation measures to restrict the spread of invasion species through the canal. A map of the region surrounding Lake Champlain was presented which clearly showed that more invasive species were present in the areas surrounding the lake than within the lake itself. While addressing multiple pathways for the spread of invasive species, including boats and trailers, bait fish bucket introductions, aquarium releases, and more, no solutions as of yet are in use to fully mitigate canal transport of invasive species. 

In the Water Resource Development Act of 2007, specific language identifies the Army Corps of Engineers to assist with identifying solutions and then to implement, operate, and maintain the solutions indefinitely at full Federal expense, which makes it easier for partners and stakeholders to take part in efforts. Funding was also acquired from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to assist with getting started with the first phase of this project to identify solutions. Relationships have been established throughout the region to assist with understanding what the needs of the New York State Canal System, including funding, maintenance, and operation. 

In the Champlain Canal, the first phase of the study looks at a number of different measures that were formulated into different alternatives and evaluated. An all taxa approach is being sought to fully address the issues faced. When assessing where to implement mitigation measures, researchers have determined that a location where water from the Hudson watershed and Lake Champlain meet. The phase one study identified a number of alternatives, prior to advancing into phase two of the study. As of now, in seeking funding for this research, the research team is working on precisely identifying what needs to be requested from the Federal government in order to receive the full appropriation earmarked for mitigation solutions. 

The goal of phase two is to answer questions about the hydrology of the Lake Champlain system. More information is needed regarding the traffic use of the system, as well as clarification of many legal questions around the New York State Canal System. The state constitution of New York says that the New York State Canal System has to remain open and navigable. The project is exploring what that means and what solution implementation might look like given this fact. 

Two alternatives that were recommended to prevent all taxa from moving through the system were, first, a physical berm, which is the most effective. A physical berm would be installed at the height of the system, which would no longer allow for commercial traffic to move through the system, but would allow for all recreational watercraft, which seems to make up well over 90% of the use of the system, to be picked up, moved over the height of land, and decontaminated on the way. This solution is the most efficacious in reducing the spread of invasive between the two watersheds. Another idea would leave the lock intact and functional, but only utilize it for essential movements, such as US Coast Guard use or special shipments that can't be lifted and decontaminated. The system would also only be used at low-risk times or layered with some other spread prevention mechanisms. 

The phase one study is completed. Pieces of the phase two study have been initiated. A finalized contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers is days away and workgroups have already been set up and started working on developing stakeholder lists. Photographs are being collected of all of the watercraft that move through the system in order to assist with selecting a boat lift that accommodate all recreational traffic. Economic impact studies and operational and legal reviews and implication are being studied to assist with developing mitigation measures. 

In July of 2021, round goby were found to have moved across the Erie Canal system and were discovered at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. As this species is known as an invasive species that can cause multiple different types of harm, the need for addressing an all taxa approach in the Champlain Canal was elevated. Interim measures and long-term solutions concepts received an infusion of energy and participation from different stakeholders as a result of this discovery. Round gobies are on the doorstep of the Champlain watershed on all sides at present. The closer that a viable population gets to Lake Champlain, the more likely it is that there could be an accidental or intentional introduction. Should exposure occur, it will be very difficult to mitigate and manage spread. Major issues associated with round goby infestation include damage to native biodiversity in the benthic area of the lake. Native sculpin would likely be displaced, along with other benthic species. Round goby are aggressive egg consumption predators, which could devastate native species repopulation efforts by local stakeholders. Round goby also compete directly with bass nests.  Round goby carry viral hemorrhagic septicemia, which is another concern for native populations. Round goby also have implication in the botulism chain in the Great Lakes. Regarding recreation, round goby attack angler bait first as soon as it enters the water, which can destroy the ability of anglers to successfully fish. As of now, there is a rapid response task force in the Lake Champlain watershed. Experts have been appointed from New York, Vermont, and Quebec. These experts are notified within 72 hours of reports of any new invasive species. Additional partners were brought in when round goby was found at the confluence of the Mohawk and the Hudson rivers, including the New York State Canal Corporation. 

Steve Pearson, of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, discussed the established network in New York for detecting and reporting invasive species in the state. Steve works within the Invasive Species Coordination Section. The Coordination Section works to bring all of the relevant stakeholders together, including the Invasive Species Council and the Advisory Committee, the Research Institute, the INF Invasives Team, and the Regional Partnerships for Invasive Species Management. 

For work on round goby, the threat extends from entirety of the Hudson Valley to Lake Champlain, which requires a great number of involved stakeholders to cooperate. The Champlain Canal System is part of a larger canal system that crosses the state from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, all the way through the Hudson River, south through Lake Champlain into New York City. In terms of management for invasive species, the main stem of the Hudson River has six locks and then five that bridge the watershed divide between the Hudson and Lake Champlain. Within the Hudson River, there are at least 122 invasive species. While these species are common within the Hudson River, they are not necessarily common in Lake Champlain or the other nearby watersheds, highlighting the important of preventing their spread. 

In response to the spread of round goby, a response plan was developed which is known as the Threshold Action Response Plan (TARP). This plan is a novel approach for the canal system in New York, which is hoped to be used as a model for future response plans in New York and in other canal systems. In this plan, critical control points were developed along the Champlain Canal. In the event new invasive species reach these points, more drastic measures will be implemented to mitigate continued migration. With the TARP, monitoring techniques are outlined for new invasive species. Education outreach steps are outlined in detail, along with operational adjustments that can be made within the canals to attempt to prevent the spread of invasive species. Adjustments include scheduled lock closures and openings. Another useful technique is double draining, which helps prevent species such as round goby from passing through locks during raising and lowering. If invasive species reach critical zones, additional measures, such as closing land cuts, would be implemented. 

A number of alternative measures, or interim deterrents, are described for preventing the spread of invasive species. These include intake screens, electric deterrents, air injection bubble curtains, and acoustic traps. For benthic species like round goby, physical barriers have also been considered. Additional educational information has been developed in response to round goby, including information on bait fish and cleaning procedures for boats and other watercraft. 

Scott George, a research biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, has been studying round goby in the canal system since 2016 and provided updates on the optimization of their efforts to contain spread of this challenging invasive species. Starting in 1990, the round goby colonized all five Great Lakes in approximately five years. Significant inland spread occurred with the last decade following that.  In 2016, after gathering all available information and resources, best efforts were implemented to monitor the spread of round goby. Methods included seining, baited minnow traps, and benthic trawling. Near shore backpack electrofishing began in 2020 after seining and trapping proved to be ineffective in the local habitats.

 Round goby was first identified in the Hudson River in 2021. Following this expansion, USGS began implementing a partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program and New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to institute an optimized sampling design to work the upper Hudson River. There are now seven routine sampling sites that get quarterly eDNA, twice annual trawling and electrofishing at these same sites. Additional supplemental eDNA samples are used to investigate unexpected eDNA detections and angler reports. VHS testing is conducted twice each spring. A new partnership with the DEC implements seasonal electrofishing surveys around the lock infrastructure.

 From the time the round goby hit the Hudson River, within the first year they went approximately five kilometers upstream. All information sources suggest that they have not passed the first barrier. Downstream, the goby colonized the Hudson River estuary as far down as Poughkeepsie very quickly. All available eDNA, trawling, and electrofishing data suggest that round goby have not moved past this dam. VHS testing has been exclusively negative with the exception of one sample that produced an inconclusive result.

Meeting was adjourned for the first day for lunch break, followed by a tour of the Erie Canal locks and the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. 

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Welcome

Dave Miko (USFWS) thanked everyone who presented the previous day. Miko thanked Saratoga State Park for hosting yesterday's meeting and their continued hospitality. 

Debbie Lee from NOAA introduced herself and thanked the participants for attending on May 9, 2024. 

Presentation: Joining Forces for Behavior Change Across the Northeast and Great Lakes Regions

Cathy McGlynn, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In 2019, the Great Lakes ANS Panel received a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Interjurisdictional grant to support ten days of unified regional AIS spread prevention and education and outreach to voters. The program is now in its fifth season. 

In 2022, the Northeast ANS Panel members joined the AIS Landing Blitz. This program collects data on boat travel and tracks the data via spider maps. Boat stewards are placed at strategic locations for 10 days that include both Canada Day and July 4^th. Stewards share press releases and social media and collect and report a standardized field of data, which is then made available to the public. There is a unified and consistent outreach and messaging effort across those regions about spread prevention measures boaters can take. 

Objectives of the program include prevention of the spread of AIS throughout the region via consistent messaging and interactions. Building momentum for deployment of boat stewards across the region as well as creating a foundation for data sharing and alerts. The program being elevated for 10 days out of the year helps generate more support for the stewards programs throughout the region, both financially and technically. Awareness of AIS is increased and capacity to track boater movement is increased. For the latest season in 2023, press releases went out in late June to five northeast states on and one Canadian province. Outreach efforts include over 400 boat steward locations throughout these states/provinces. Over 45,000 inspections were conducted. 

Consistent messaging has been found to be the best way to promote behavior change. Inspections of boats are voluntary. Stewards also teach the public how to conduct the inspections themselves. Over 7,000 AIS interceptions were made by these inspections. The species intercepted are recorded. Both animals and plants intercepted that are attached to the boats are completed removed to prevent spread. Social media is a large part of the program. Last year, the program received several thousand impressions across social media platforms, which is important for public education. In summary, over 400 sites were covered by stewards, over 45,000 inspections were conducted, over 7,000 AIS interceptions were made, and 7 invasive species were intercepted over the past year. 

Comparing 2022 to 2023, the number of inspection sites increased. Number of inspections decreased, but this was likely due to rain on weekends and wildfires. AIS interceptions increased to a large degree. The number of species intercepted decreased.  New social media content will be posted, new public service announcements will be issued along with new press releases. An appeal was made to provide new ideas for expanding the program, outreach, and the development of new programs to go beyond the 10 days occupied by this program. Currently in development is an effort to standardize data collection across the regions and centralize the program database across regions. Also, the aspiration to expand the AIS Landing Blitz to all of the ANS panels in the various states, provinces, and regions. 

Presentation: Strategies and Next Steps to Reduce the Interstate Transport of AIS-Infested Watercraft

Lisa DeBruyckere, President of Creative Resource Strategies, presented updates on Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Call Before You Haul project, including information about outreach, the watercraft inspection and decontamination stations that have been established throughout the western states, the Call Before You Haul program, and next steps. A variety of outreach efforts associated with the movement of watercraft and aquatic invasive species have been undertaken throughout North America, including Canada. Clean, Drain, Dry has been a consistent message. 

Currently, the western states, particularly the Pacific Northwest states and Canadian provinces, do not have quagga or zebra mussels. To protect the Columbia River Basin, a suite of watercraft inspection and decontamination stations were established throughout those states and provinces to serve as a network to allow the states and provinces to communicate and work together to inspect to decontaminate boats as they were transported throughout the West. 

In the fall of 2022, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission provided support to the Call Before You Haul program, which is a toll-free telephone number that state transportation permit offices make available to boat haulers prior to them moving boats. The hotline assists with arranging inspection and decontamination of boats to be hauled at no cost to the person hauling the boat. The hotline further creates movement notices for each boat movement.  Since the hotline was established, 1,800 calls have been placed to the hotline. Efforts are ongoing to establish increased collaboration among all states in the country as well as Canadian provinces. Social media, press releases, and outreach with transport companies and other private organizations are steps being taken to raise awareness about the program. 

The goal of the program is spread awareness of Clean, Drain, Dry in order to reduce the spread of AIS, and to make inspections, and if need be, decontaminations easy for boat transporters. Despite all effort to date, interceptions of dreissenid-infested watercraft in the Pacific Northwest states continue to occur. The greatest number of dreissenid-intercepted watercraft come from the Great Lakes and Lower Colorado River regions of the United States. The National Sea Grant Law Center conducted an analysis in 2021 and made recommendations on preventing the spread of dreissenids to the Columbia River Basin. They recommended targeted outreach, adoption of clauses in boat sale contracts and marina slips, and coordination of multi-state enforcement efforts. In 2024, the National Sea Grant Law Center revisited those initial recommendations, and based on the trajectory of increased dreissenid-infested watercraft through time, stated that national legislation could potentially be a more efficient approach to achieving objectives. 

In 2024, the Call Before You Haul program will continue targeted outreach to haulers, expanding the program to all western states, not just the Pacific Northwest states. Efforts will be made to incorporate language requiring Clean, Drain, Dry in boat sale contracts and marina slip leases, working directly with those entities, particularly in the lower Colorado and Great Lakes regions. A draft national watercraft transport policy will be developed and vetted. 

The goal is to reduce the transport of dreissenid- and AIS-infested watercraft in North America. The next phase is being kicked off by a survey that will further identify issues that facilitate the movement of infested boats across state lines. A virtual summit will be hosted to develop an international action to identify roles and responsibilities, opportunities for collaboration, and timeline, cost and performance metrics. Focus groups will be established to refine the action plan and then develop implementation steps. The survey is currently open. 

Outreach Subcommittee Update: Language Statement, AIS Outreach Summit Planning, and the Influence of AIS Brands on Prevention Behaviors

Tim Campbell, of the Wisconsin Sea Grant, provided updates on the Outreach Subcommittee's activity following the previous meeting in January 2024. The subcommittee has worked on a language statement based off the Great Lakes ANS Panel position statement for inclusive language. The statement acknowledges potential harm from place-based and cultural-based names. The statement urges people to support work to better understand these interactions and to provide alternatives when possible. The statement will be formally presented at the next meeting and will be open for comments. As part of the subcommittees ongoing work with the OIT hitchhiker group, a poster has been published and distributed with help from the Invasive Species Action Network to 75 independent retailers. For the AIS Outreach Committee of Practice, one event took place since the last meeting, where the subcommittee hosted a fishing tournament focused on angling organizations with the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network

An invasive species language workshop was part of the 2024 National Invasive Species Awareness Week. A technical report is in the works and there will be a shorter peer-reviewed publication based on what was learned.  A key point that came out of the workshop was that while some of the harm caused by language and place-based names and cultural-based named is anecdotally understood, there's not a lot of evidence in peer-reviewed literature, which seems to be keeping people from moving forward with action. Therefore, the subcommittee will undertake promotion and social science work like qualitative interviews or experiments in order to develop an understanding of the harm of that language. 

The subcommittee is working on an outreach workshop that is being hosted as part of the NAISMA annual conference. The big picture goal is to discuss and implement some of the recommendations from the National Outreach Assessment that the subcommittee completed in 2022. The outreach will consist of a morning of presentations that are part of the conference itself focused on recent brand evaluations, outreach evaluations, and helping people think about how we're collectively evaluating these programs. 

The Outreach Assessment results are comprised of a breadth of summary data on recreational water use, knowledge on prevention behaviors, and national success with AIS prevention efforts. The outreach covers all recreational water users, including anglers, scuba divers, seaplane pilots, and more. The Outreach Assessment will provide an excellent benchmark moving forward by which to judge efforts to increase communication effectiveness and branding. More detailed data results and comparisons are forthcoming once all of the data from the outreach has been fully analyzed. One conclusion to draw from the data is that AIS Outreach is working. The brands and efforts are leading to behavioral change and increased prevention actions. Also, based on the results, it is clear that layering different prevention strategies is the most effective means of reducing AIS spread. 

Presentation: Developing a Ballast Water Management Plan for the State of Rhode Island

Kevin Cute, Marine Resources Specialist with the Coastal Resources Management Council, discusses Rhode Island's progress with developing a ballast water management program. The Coastal Resources Management Council is the first coastal zone management program in the country. The Council implements the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act and is a regulatory agency. Many state Coastal Zone Management Programs in the country are networked throughout different agencies, institutions, NGOs, and other organization. The CRMC is unique in that it is a standalone regulatory agency. The CRMC has jurisdiction over all activities in Rhode Island's coastal zone, which goes out three nautical miles to the limit of the state's territorial sea, including all of the submerged land, the shore, and any inland areas that have a hydrographic connection to coastal waters. 

The ballast water management plan includes seven objectives. Objective six addresses prevention, and on the marine side this task is intended to prevent and minimize the risk of AIS introductions from ballast water and hull following. Hull following is a separate issue as far as the CRMC's present focus with regard to ballast water. Under objective 6-A, the CRMC has used some of their ANS grant funding to develop a cooperative agreement between the CRMC and the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Marine Affairs. There were two focuses of this work. One, the gap analysis relative to Rhode Island's legal framework for aquatic invasive species in general and ballast water in particular. The second part was to examine existing ballast water management programs throughout the country, once gaps were found, to find what the solutions may be to filling those gaps in Rhode Island's framework. 

States focuses on were California, Washington, and Oregon. These states have very highly respected ballast water management programs accepted at the Federal level, which predate VIDA. Therefore, these three states' programs have been used to fill the gaps in Rhode Island's own program, so that when the gaps are filled the state will have all of the functional elements of a ballast water inspection program. Yet to be developed are forms for reporting and a robust website. As of now, the CRMC is in the beginning stages of putting this inspection program together, but the Council has excellent guidance to create that plan within the next couple of years. 

The EPA has a consent decree to finish the ballast water national standards by September of 2024. Following this, there will likely be a two-year period before the final Coast Guard regulations are promulgated. CRMC would prefer to be ready for these regulations with its own program. CRMC is trying to work on as many aspects of what a ballast water inspection program will be so that they are ready for the final regulations. Officials from California have assisted this process by providing two lists of equipment that's needed to conduct ballast water inspections. There are two different categories of inspection, a general inspection which will involve looking at a ship's records, ballast waterlogs, examining onboard treatment systems, and any of the vessel's infrastructure that would relate to ballast water. Equipment needed to conduct these general inspections includes jumpsuits, hardhats, safety glasses, anti-static boots, and more items. These pieces of equipment will be purchased now under an existing ANS Task Force grant award, so that the CRMC is as ready as it can be when the time comes. 

Once the Rhode Island ballast water inspection program is completed, the CRMC wishes to use that as a model for the NEANS Panel region to communicate with the other states and promote the idea that everyone should be working towards creating their own ballast water program. The CRMC has developed guidance for acquiring funding for new states to use to establish their own ballast water programs, which is provided via two streams of funding through the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act. A mitigation trust fund will be set up to house the funding and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation will have a role in managing and administrating that funding. 

Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) Intergovernmental Response Framework

Amanda Garcia, U.S. Coast Guard, works at the headquarters office of Operating and Environmental Standards. Within the VIDA, there is a specific call for an intergovernmental response framework to ANS. As the Coast Guard is working at the beginning phases of this program, a summary will be provided for work that will take place over the next couple of years.  Congress passed VIDA for the establishment of uniform, environmentally sound standards and requirements for the management of discharge incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels. This includes commercial vessels great than 79 feet and the incidental discharges that come from them. Some of the incidental discharges covered are ballast water, deck washdown, chain locker washdown, EGS runoff, and anything else incidental to the normal operation of a vessel. Ballast water for all vessels, no matter size, is covered under VIDA as well. 

The EPA will promulgate technology-based national standards of performance that are at least as stringent as the Vessel General Permit (VGP). The Coast Guard will develop regulations to ensure, monitor, and enforce compliance with EPA standards. The new EPA standards are scheduled to come out in September of 2024. The Coast Guard's final rule which will implement VIDA is expected to come out two years after that. The Coast Guard is currently tracking to meet that two-year deadline. 

Outside of incidental discharges, there is an intergovernmental response framework that Congress has mandated the Coast Guard to establish. The Coast Guard, in consultation with the EPA and in coordination with or through the ANS Task Force should establish a framework for Federal and intergovernmental response to ANS risks from discharge from ballast water and incidental discharges under VIDA. Similarly related, under the ballast discharge risk, the EPA in coordination with the Coast Guard shall establish risk assessment and response framework using ballast water discharge data and ANS data for the purpose of ID and tracking ANS, evaluating the risk of the ANS, and establishing emergency best management practices to respond to the ANS threat. The VIDA Act is available online at www.congress.gov. 

Grass Carp Session: 

Grass Carp Response in the Lake Champlain Basin and Richelieu River: 

Meg Modley, of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, provided a brief introduction to the presentation and noted the importance of regional, national, and international cooperation when addresses this AIS. This is a new and developing early response in Lake Champlain. There is not yet an established population of grass carp in Lake Champlain. Currently, Vermont and Quebec do not allow stocking of triploid grass carp. New York does. Photos were presented that express the partnerships that have been developed within the region between different watersheds and canal systems. 

Annick Drouin, Quebec Ministry of Environment, introduced herself and provided background on her career. Quebec currently does have an action plan for AIS, which include invertebrates and vertebrates. The action plan focuses on prevention, surveillance, and control. Grass carp is a priority species in this plan. 

Since 2014, grass carp is prohibited in all of Canada for all purposes. Since 2017, the use of live bait fish is prohibited throughout Quebec. The ban on live bait fish was accelerated following the detection of the first grass carp in Quebec in 2016. Risk assessments were conducted to determined where the invasive carp in Quebec could go naturally in the St. Lawrence River and its main tributaries. The risk assessment has enabled authorities to develop decision making grids for managing invasive grass carp populations. Surveillance is conducted via cooperation networks with commercial fisherman and their partners. Bounties are paid for reports and capture of grass carp. Outreach is conducted via a reporting hotline as well as a smartphone app which helps identify fish species via camera. eDNA samples are used to track invasive species movements in order to plan mitigation fishing efforts. Fishing actions are targeted for highest impact due to the wide range of habitat for the grass carp, which includes the St. Lawrence River and the Richelieu River. Five years after the first detection of grass carp in the St. Lawrence River in 2016, another detection was made by an angler in the Richelieu River. Control efforts are currently limited to targeted fishing events and data gathering to better track grass carp movements to develop new approaches for mitigation. Through membership in the ANS Panel, Quebec has learned better methods of catching and tracking grass carp and other AIS. 

Brad Young, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, expressed his happiness working with Quebec and Canada on the ANS initiatives and programs. FWS is on the ground locally doing sampling and monitoring of Lake Champlain. These samples are also transferred to the FWS tech center where eDNA analysis is done. Lake Champlain is composed of two primary waterway invasion sites, both from the north and the south. Lake Champlain is surrounded on both sides by areas with many invasive species. The current priority is preventing these species from spreading to Lake Champlain, including the grass carp which would have devastating effects on indigenous species. As previously mentioned, New York state allows the stocking of triploid grass carp in nearby areas. Efforts are underway to discourage this practice in waterways that have outlets to Lake Champlain. The process is complicated to achieve these policy changes. 

FWS started a monitoring project looking at eDNA for other invasive species before grass carp was on the radar for prevention efforts. The discovery of grass carp in the Richelieu River raised the level of attention on this species, at which point eDNA monitoring began to shift focus. The original eDNA was primarily focused on round goby. Studies were conducted at numerous sites in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, more sites were added for eDNA testing. Currently, there is no eDNA evidence of grass carp near Lake Champlain's outlets. 

Metabarcoding is being conducted by the USFWS to target many species, not just round goby and grass carp. However, grass carp has become the most high-profile species for monitoring. In 2022, there were no grass carp detections anywhere in the Lake Champlain basin. In 2023, the survey at Richelieu River and down to the Champlain Canal System returned no detections. There was one positive single detection in Augur Lake, which was expected. As of the present, there has only been one grass carp found in Lake Champlain proper, close to the border. Efforts were immediately made to determine where the fish came from. Unfortunately, the fish that was captured was thrown in a compost pile and decomposed before any tissue testing could be conducted. However, visual analysis suggested that the fish was a triploid carp. Recently, isotope analysis of the fish determined that the fish was hatched and raised in Arkansas, which makes it highly likely that the fish was stocked in Augur Lake and made its way into Lake Champlain. 

Long term eDNA monitoring will continue at Lake Champlain. The same sites as well as additional sites will continue to be monitored for eDNA meta barcoding, along with QPCR to specifically target grass carp because they are a species of higher interest. eDNA is effective for blanket coverage of multiple species. QPCR is precisely targeted in terms of species and location. New York state is very interested in finding ways to curtail further escapements of stocked fish into Lake Champlain. One of the things the state is doing is sending in a team. DEC has biologists that will be conducting a survey this summer of the outlet of Augur Lake in order to figure out if fish are escaping from there. 

Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association and the Mississippi River Basin Panel Recommendations:

Greg Conover, representing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association, and the Mississippi River Basin Panel, provided an overview to set the stage with regard to where the ANS has been in terms of cooperative efforts. MICRA is a partnership of 28 state natural resource agencies in the Mississippi River Basin and also includes some of the Federal agencies as well. Many of the member agencies in MICRA were very active in the development of the national management plan for black-grass and silver carp. MICRA is also the host organization for the Mississippi River Basin Panel. The conversations within MICRA and the MRBP were about the next steps, with regard to how the states and various agencies could implement some of the actions or recommendations within the plan. 

MICRA had an interest in implementing some of the recommendations in the national plan regarding grass carp and the use of grass carp. With this in mind, MICRA asked the MRBP to lead a project steering committee that would include representatives from all of the ANSTF regional panels and the National Triploid Grass Carp Inspection Certification Program (NTGCICP). 

The MRBP wanted to make sure it had a broad representation of input as the project was scoped out. In 2010, the MRBP pulled together a request for quotes and sent that out. In 2011, the MRBP approached the USFWS with a proposal for funding. MICRA then received funding for the project and the work was awarded to HDR to do the review and assessment and then provide those results back to the group.  The purpose of the program's founding was to ensure that the public and private entities that are producing, certifying, shipping, stocking, and regulating grass carp were employing effective, integrative actions to safeguard aquatic resources and prevent accidental or illegal introductions of both diploid and triploid grass carp. 

The program was also intended to get an understanding of the extent and the magnitude of legal diploid grass carp sales, shipping, and stocking in the United States. To accomplish this, 8 objectives were identified. Objectives include gaining a better understanding of the legal use of the diploid grass carp as well as triploid grass carp production, the triploid certification program, the shipping of grass carp with a focus on commercial fish haulers, and the regulatory approach of the states throughout the nation. HDR conducted questionnaires and phone interviews with the target groups that were identified, most of which were represented within that steering committee. HDR also did 12 site visits in 7 different states to production facilities to conduct actual observations and to develop real understanding of the industry. The overall report was a summarization of these activities which then provided recommendations to reduce risk. 

Key findings by HDR included a large nationwide difference in regulations, perceptions, and the operations of grass carp use throughout the nation. HDR was unable to determine the scope of the diploid market, because there's no recordkeeping associated with the use of diploids. With regard triploid grass carp, not all states required the certification by the service program. In those cases, recordkeeping was sparse. HDR noted and underscored the good recordkeeping that is maintained through the national certification program and how that helps to have an idea of where the fish are being shipped to, how many are being stocked. HDR identified 393 different businesses that dealt with grass carp in some way, production, distribution, sales. 73% of those companies were interviewed and it was noted that approximately 80% were distributors only, which is a key point because distribution is one of the weak links that HDR identified in the management approaches that are being implemented. None of the distributors could provide any examples of written SOPs that they used in their business to ensure there was no mixing of diploid and triploid grass carp, or stocking of fish in the wrong place. 11% of the distributors reported that they transport both diploid and triploid grass carp on the same truck, which highlights the important of SOPs. This fact was identified as one of the potentially greatest risks of introduction. 

With regard to triploid grass carp, 9 producers were identified in 5 states that participated in the national program. Another 3 producers in 2 states do not participate in the program. HDR concluded that the national program is effective in preventing diploid grass carp from leaving a participating producer's facility as alleged triploid grass carp. Also noted, the QA/QC that is involved with the triploid program and the assurances it provides ends once a lot of certified triploid grass carp leaves the control of a participating producer. The scope of the national triploid program does not include distributors.

Half of US states do not have defined enforcement protocols for illegal acts of grass carp introduction. Only three states reported randomly sampling fish in shipments. The strength of the inspection and certification program is therefore dependent on actions taken by the receiving states to ensure that the shipment they are receiving is in fact the shipment that was certified. 

HDR concluded that for those producers participating in the program, the program is effective. But the scope of that success is limited or impacted because state regulations are highly contrasting throughout the nation. That lack of regulatory consistency along with the overall lack of inspections and enforcement creates an environment for potential abuse and leaves all states vulnerable to accidental and illegal introductions of grass carp. HDR strongly recommended a nationally coordinated and federally supported approach is needed to successfully implement an effective and integrated program for grass carp management. HDR also recommended increasing the breadth of the national program to include states and distributors. The program has standards for inspectors and producers currently, but no standards for distributors or states. Another recommendation was to develop consistent rules and regulations among the states and at a national level, because it is critical to remove diploid grass carp from the commercial supply chain to reduce the risk of any sort of contamination or illegal activities with the diploid grass carp. HDR also encouraged uniform recordkeeping and enforcement from state to state, including random inspections. Finally, HDR recommended better awareness of the state-by-state regulations by the distributors and by the general public. 

MICRA used this information to develop a report with 8 recommendations. These recommendations were intended to establish a national policy strategy supported by consistent, or at least compatible, state regulations for grass carp to prevent the unwanted spread, unintentional and illegal introductions, and the establishment of reproducing populations in new parts of the Mississippi River Basin, the Great Lakes Basin, as well as the rest of the nation. The 8 recommendations can be broken down into two main groups. The first 5 recommendations were targeted to states and state regulations, development of consistent SOPs and BMPs, and then also the need for enforcement. The last 3 were targeted at the USFWS and its national certification program. The recommendations were related improving the efficacy of the program. Measures included the direct participation of the states that would be the recipients of that program’s product, and then also the distributors. 

Since this report was put forward, MICRA worked with its member states. All diploid states, with the exception of Hawai'i, are in the Mississippi River Basin, so MICRA worked with those states in the basin that were identified as diploid back in 2014. Last December, an update was gathered from these states. All states responded that they fully support the recommendations in the MICRA report and that they support the recommended consistent national policy strategy. However, only two of the states were able to change their regulations from allowing diploid stockings to the certified triploids only. 

The MRBP and GLP submitted a joint recommendation to the ANSTF in November of 2015. The panels were urging the appropriate Federal entities to implement recommendations number 6 through 8 in the MICRA report. That same recommendation was resubmitted in December of 2018. The response that was returned at that December 2018 meeting was that they needed additional time for the appropriate members to determine what levels of implementation was possible. Further developments should reach the ANSTF soon.

Great Lakes Commission and Great Lakes Panel Recommendations: 

Ceci Weibert, representing the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes Panel, provided an overview on the efforts that have been ongoing to reduce risk. As a result of the MICRA report from 2014 and the joint recommendation from 2015, between 2016 and 2018 the GLP and ANS set up and supported grass carp ad hoc committee. One of the results that group was a letter that was sent out through the Council of Great Lakes Fisheries to those diploid states explaining why diploid stocking is an issue and requesting some regulatory to prohibit the practice. 

In 2018, the GLP ad hoc committee dissolved following issuance of the letter with the intent to reconvene if needed. In 2024, through the standing policy coordination committee, the GLP sent letters to the other regional ANS panels to gather current developments regarding recent introductions of diploid grass carp within the last 10 years. It was found that established diploid populations are present in many different states across many basins across many ANS panels. The general is sentiment is that this issue needs to be worked on across regions.  

The GLC is a binational organization established by Congress in 1955. The GLC is made up of a series of commissioners that represent the state and provincial governments. As part of their responsibility to these governments, the GLC puts together policy resolutions on a variety of issues related to the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers provides an opportunity for the governors and premiers of the ten Great Lakes jurisdictions to come together and talk about policy issues at a broad scale. This group does support an AIS task force, and that task force has developed a list of least wanted AIS. These species were identified through risk assessment as being higher risk or of ecological or social concern to the Great Lakes region. In 2014 and 2015, the GLC passed a series of policy resolutions related to the prohibition of the import and sale of AIS, related to the Lacey Act. The GLC does a regular 10-year review of those resolutions. In 2024, the GLC is starting a process to combine the two resolutions into a new resolution to bring forward to the GLC commissioners in the fall meeting at the beginning of October. 

A couple of opportunities are present to manage grass carp. One opportunity is to call for the reinstatement of the interstate transport clause. Another opportunity is to request the regulation of all remaining least wanted list species as either injurious or noxious on both sides of the border. The GLC is exploring options for how to list grass carp by ploidy status. This route seems possible at this time.  A workgroup meeting is scheduled in late May where ideas will be gathered related to these options for the ten-year policy update. 

Regional Panel Recommendations: 

Northeast Panel, Western Regional Panel, and Mississippi River Basin Panel Recommendations: 

The Regional Panels recommend that the Task Force identify additional funding for regional panels to foster increased collaborative projects, communication, and advancements in achieving AIS management goals established and identified in the ANSTF Strategic Plan. The current funding for each panel is authorized at $50,000. In recognition that the authorizing legislation that established the panels was passed in 1990, the realized panel funding of $50,000 would be valued at $121,792 in today’s dollars. To better support the collaborative work of each panel, an increase in the annual funding to meet the federally authorized amount of support to the panels as noted in the National Invasive Species Act is needed. 

Response: The ANSTF acknowledges the recommendation’s point that the current funding levels are not commensurate with the work required of Regional Panels. To address the panel recommendation, the ANSTF Co-chairs believe this issue needs to be handled from an authorization, appropriation, and President’s budget perspectives. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to work through President’s budget process to address the Administration’s highest priority work identified for ANS. 

Western Regional Panel Recommendations:

The WRP respectfully encourages the United States Department of Transportation to develop standardized AIS prevention language to include in interstate transportation permit applications for all water-based equipment, including boats and construction-related equipment. 

Response:  This recommendation has been forwarded to the Department of Transportation and is being taken under consideration. The Executive Secretary will follow up and help coordinate, as appropriate, efforts to help address this recommendation (Action Item).

Decisional: European Green Crab Management Plan

In the July 2023 meeting, the ANSTF approved the draft European Green Crab (EGC) Management Plans for submission to the Federal Register for public comment. The EGC management plan working group that developed the revised plan and addressed the proceeding submitted the final version to the ANSTF's consideration. 

EGC is native to Europe, with potential worldwide coastal invasion and is one of the most ecological and economically damaging predators in near-shore coastal communities of both eastern and western North America. EGC has established populations in South Africa, Japan, Argentina, and Australia. The original EGC management plan was created in 2002 with an emphasis on the cultural, economic, and ecological impacts. There have been substantial impacts to native species in North America. 

There has been a need to update existing management plans with significant coordination with state, tribal, and other Federal partners that are all working on invasive species issues. In 2021, there was a recommendation from the ANSTF to review the different species-specific control plans, and there was the recommendation made to update those plans, which included the EGC management plan. A working group was formed and held its first meeting in 2022. Several consecutive meetings were held. Stakeholder listening sessions were held. Specific listening sessions were held with tribal partners. A draft plan was informally submitted to the task force in May of 2023. Comments were received back through an informal process. The final draft was provided to the ANSTF in June of 2023. That final draft version was approved by the ANSTF to go out for a formal public comment through the Federal Register. 

That public comment process occurred from December 2023 to February of 2024. Some comments were received. Comments were received from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and also the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association. Their input helped enhance some parts of the plan, including looking at ecological consequences of EGC introduction, such as green crabs being a vector of disease and also potentially transmitting parasites to native coastal communities, especially native shellfish. The Pacific Shellfish Growers Association enhanced some of the language on specific aquaculture practices that could potentially transfer European green crab to areas that are not currently infested. 

Within the national management plan, there are 11 goals that span both prevention, early detection, and monitoring as well as rapid response, control, and containment. Potentially, also eradication is a population can be identified early on. There are also goals related to economic analysis to help better quantify the trade offs among the different management options, outreach and education, and significant goals related to coordination. EGC is a species being worked on many different agencies across multiple states and regions and into Canada. Being able to coordinate data management is a valuable aspect. The EGC working group recommends having some group that consists of members of local, state, Federal agencies, tribal communities, universities, NGOs, shellfish growers, and other relevant stakeholders to help evaluate progress toward achieving the goals that have been highlighted in the plan. 

A motion was submitted to approve the plan. The motion was seconded. A vocal vote was taken. None opposed. The motion passed and the plan was approved.

Decisional: New Jersey State ANS Management Plan

Heather Desko, of the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, presented a summary of the New Jersey State ANS Management Plan components and the development process. This effort has been collaborative, led by the New Jersey Department of Environment Protection Division of Science and Research, the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife, and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. The New Jersey DEP received a grant from the Mid-Atlantic Panel on AIS to develop this plan. This grant provided critical funding for a consultant to assist with the writing of the plan. 

New Jersey is the fifth smallest state in the U.S., but it ranks tenth in the percentage of water that makes up the state's area. 18,000 miles of streams and rivers, over 11,000 lakes, reservoirs, and ponds, almost 1 million acres of wetlands, freshwater and coastal, 127 miles of coastline, and the state is surrounding by water on three sides, including one of the busiest shipping ports in the US. Therefore, AIS threats come in from all sides. AIS management efforts in New Jersey have been largely focused as location or species specific, or specific tracking, survey, and eradication projects. 

In fall of 2022, a consultant was hired to assist with writing this plan following receiving the Mid-Atlantic Panel funding grant. A working group was created consisting of Federal, state, local, non-profit, and academic organizations within New Jersey. By winter of 2024, the plan had been through agency approvals and was put out for a 60-day public comment period. The plan was also sent to the ANSTF for their preliminary review. In April 2024, the plan was signed by the Governor of New Jersey and was then sent to the ANSTF for final approval.

The plan consists of five objectives. The first objective is oversight and coordination, which is the most important for New Jersey. There are 78 actions within the plan, 15 of those are identified as critical. These objectives require committed funds to implement and are necessary to address the rest of the additional actions. These actions include creating an AIS coordinator position, securing long term funding for the position, establishing a database manager to track records of AIS in New Jersey, and partnering with neighboring states for cross-jurisdictional goals. The plan is founded on having several specialized working groups to support the plan. Developing these working groups, which were identified by partners in the plan development working group, is a primary objective. 

A species list was developed for New Jersey with a current count of 184 species. There is a map system and NAS database used to track these species. While the plan was in development, NJ DEP created an invasive species website, which the aquatic invasive species have a dedicated plan on. Through the New Jersey Water Monitoring Council, a recommendation for decontamination protocols for water monitoring professionals within the state of New Jersey was developed. 

A motion was submitted for approval of the plan. The motion was seconded. A vote was taken. None opposed. The plan was approved. 

Update on Emerging Invasive Soft Coral Issue in the Pacific and Caribbean 

Joe Krieger, National Invasive Species Coordinator with NOAA, provided an update on new introductions of invasive soft coral and ongoing efforts to manage it. There are several species of soft coral that are all part of the class Octocorallia. They are considered soft corals because they don't secrete a hard calcareous skeleton like in reef building corals. So far, the identified soft corals known to be native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Red Sea and they're very popular in the aquarium trade. Outside of their native range, there are no known predators of these soft corals. These corals experience rapid population growth wherever they colonize. These corals can reproduce asexually, which allows them to disperse and establish themselves rapidly. There is evidence the corals secrete a chemical that kills off the tissue of native corals. 

There have been attempts to remove these corals. In Pearl Harbor, removal efforts have been quickly reversed by the coral's prolific growth rate. In August of 2020, unidentified species of soft coral were discovered in Pearl Harbor. The corals were later identified to be Unomia stolonifera and Capnella spicata. There were reports back in 2015 and 2016 of a fisherman encountering what they called a "stinky anemone," which may have been the actual first encounter with these corals. 

Once these corals were discovered, it led to increased surveys of the areas around Pearl Harbor. As of 2024, there are three species of invasive soft coral, one invasive fish species, one invasive anemone, and an invasive unidentified worm. These are all popular aquarium species. The soft coral are of particular concern because they promulgate quickly and smother all benthic native life in affected areas. 

NOAA is supporting a working group responsible for surveying and planning a rapid response and control effort. Partners now include NOAA, the Navy, the University of Hawai'i, and others. Navy funding is being sought to effect rapid DNA screening and then start to develop early detection monitoring and response points for the rest of the state of Hawai'i. 

The soft coral infestations are not limited to Hawai'i. They've also been found in Federal locations in Caribbean. These are likely some of the same species as in Hawai'i. It was first detected in Venezuela in the early 2000s, then in Cuba in 2022, and then in Puerto Rico in the fall of 2023. It is believed, but unconfirmed, to have been introduced in the Caribbean via aquarium dumping. The spread of coral is also believed to be taking place via boats and fishing gear. There is some evidence that the Cuba introduction may have been through ballast water. 

The Coral Reef Task Force was established by Executive Order in 1998. It was then codified in the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act in 2022. The purpose of the Coral Reef Task Force is to lead, coordinate, and sustain U.S. actions to conserve coral reef ecosystems both domestically and internationally. According to the EO, the Coral Reef Task Force identifies actions that affect any coral reefs within US waters, which include representatives from the state jurisdictions and the three freely associated states, including Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawai'i, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. 

The Coral Reef Task Force is co-chaired by NOAA and the Department of the Interior. Aside from the member states and associated states, there are what are called All-Island Committees, which are comprised of the governors of Presidentially appointed green resource managers. These are regional panels. Every island has its own All-Islands Committee comprised of the state representative, state agencies, and stakeholders and local Federal partners. There are also a series of workgroups that cover a wide variety of things. The Coral Disease Working Group, central to this issue, is planning to change its name to the Coral Disturbance Working Group and will decide if they want to form a subgroup beneath this working group that is specific to invasive species. 

Maria Vega-Rodriguez, of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, provided detail on the coral invasion in Puerto Rican waters. The first reports of something that could have been pulse coral were received in October of 2023. This was a very unofficial report received via Facebook. Therefore, there was no way to verify coordinates for this report, until February of 2024. The patch of invasive pulse coral was found on the south side of the island and is of the Xeniidae family. To date, four reports of four different locations of pulse coral infestation, primarily on the south and southwestern sides of the island. The most recent report was for an island north of a city in Puerto Rico that is in on the south side of the island. 

The initial response to the coral infestation was to remove it manually. The teams in Puerto Rico are still in the process of learning about the different response strategies and removal strategies to the coral infestations. Conversations are ongoing with colleagues from Hawai'i and in Cuba. For manual removal, a hammer and chisel are used to remove the coral, which is then zipped up in plastic bags and the samples are returned to labs, particularly at the University of Puerto Rico where genetic tests are run to determine which species are being found in Puerto Rico. The presence of Unomia stolonifera has been confirmed in Puerto Rico, but there are likely other species present as well. Results are still pending for the latest samples. 

Messaging to the public is ongoing to raise awareness of the problem. Multiple methods are being used including social media, flyers, and TV interviews. There is also an ongoing citizen science effort from the coral program that was built to have eyes on the water all around Puerto Rico. Data such as water quality and observations of the coral are routinely collected by the public. Citizens have been advised not to remove any coral at all. 

An administrative order was signed by the Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources on May 10, 2024. An emergency permit has also been put together is currently being reviewed by the Coral Reef Internal Advisory Committee to the Secretary. Both the administrative order and the emergency should soon be available, and with those the mitigation and response strategies will be scaled up. 

Proposals have been submitted for funding opportunities including the Puerto Rican Emergency Response Fund. A Caribbean workshop is in the works where other islands colleagues will be able to come to Puerto Rico and observe the invasive coral in the water and begin preparing their own mitigation strategies. Manual removal continues while research is being conducted on additional removal methods. In terms of future response efforts, engagement and partnerships with subject matter experts is planned to enhance remove and response efforts. 

Elizabeth Monaghan, aquatic invasion species biologist representing a large working group with the Hawai'i Division an of Aquatic Resources focused on invasive corals, provided an overview of the octocoral invasion seen in Hawai'i. Pearl Harbor is a watershed on the south side of Oahu, right next to Honolulu. Pearl Harbor is an active and busy military base. In 2020, an unidentified octocoral was first reported by contractors in Pearl Harbor. There is anecdotal evidence that the octocoral was present at least in 2017, or possibly earlier. In early 2023, the U.S. Navy reached out to the state of Hawai'i and other partners to engage them into a multi-agency working group to talk about the response to this octocoral. 

In mid-2023, specimens of the octocoral were collected and through morphological and molecular analysis, it was determined that the octocoral was Unomia stolonifera. Following identification, teams proceeded with control and removal trials in mid-2023. The Navy first did a survey to see the extent of the invasion and they found it's occupying approximately 82 acres, all within Pearl Harbor. The corals are growing on both hard and soft substrates. The Navy then moved forward with studying control and decontamination and removal techniques. 

The Navy performed aquarium lethality trials and found that soaking the coral for five minutes in fresh water is lethal. Also, 24 hours of drying is lethal. Unomia is also growing on a pier and removal has been prioritized here. Wrapping the pier pilings saw lethality within three days. However, within several weeks new Unomia fragments recruited back onto the pier pilings from the harbor floor. The Navy has also trialed manual removal in a small boat marina, which included divers collecting Unomia fragments and placing them into small mesh bags, which are then desiccated. Again, there was recruitment back into the removed spots within several days. Tarps and sandbags have been shown to be effective controls on the benthos of the marina, but professional tools are required for installation. 

During surveys, four other common aquarium species were found within this Unomia invasion zone and also an invasive anemone was found in a separate site likely linked to a separate aquarium release. One of the other invasive species is another invasive octocoral, which occupies almost one acre adjacent to Unomia. Potentially, if the Unomia was not present, this other invasive could be a much larger problem. 

Unomia is a very common aquarium species. It has been called pulse coral or pulsing Xenia. While Unomia is illegal to import to Hawai'i, sell in Hawai'i, and to release in Hawai'i, it can easily be ordered online. Local trade can also be found on local websites and potentially via private sales.  Pet abandonment on military bases may also play a role with introduction of these invasive species. Outreach has increased against illegal pet release. Flyers have been handed out aquarium stores and fishing supply stores providing information on how to spot invasions in the wild so that reports can be accurately issued and responded to. 

With regard to next steps, the Navy has been able to move forward with removal from a small area, they need significant funding to increase control efforts, acquire equipment, and to fund further studies of the invasion. There has been a lot of interest in eDNA monitoring to track the spread of the invasion. CGAPS has been working on planning and relaunching the Don’t Let It Loose campaign to target marine aquarium dumping and to increase knowledge of how to dispose of pets responsibly through the state. From the state of Hawaii's perspective, the invasion has been contained within Pearl Harbor, which is under Federal jurisdiction. It is Department of Defense jurisdiction. The state is very concerned that the infestation will spread to state waters and potentially spread throughout the Hawaiian Islands or even beyond to other Pacific islands.

The state is continuing to work with the Department of Defense, but it is also seeking funding for early detection, diver, and eDNA surveys. Some funding has been acquired for eDNA surveys, but the goal is to supplement this with diver surveys. Some priority sites have been surveyed either through existing programs. The USFWS has been doing an extensive survey of some military sites on the island that coincide with the invasion. The state would like to expand surveys to fully survey all noted priority sites with divers. 

EDRR Framework Update: 

Craig Martin (USFWS) provided an overview of the Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Framework. Invasive species management is a cross-cutting priority for the Department of Interior and its offices. The Department is focused on strategic approaches that allow actions to be directed. Within the strategic plan, there are some focal areas that have been identified. These have been discussed at prior meetings and predicated on a number of planning documents. The EDRR Framework was further refined through recent publications that started to coalesce the exact framework that's being pursued. All of these initiatives require close coordination and collaboration with a variety of management authorities and partners who are on the landscape doing thorough detection and rapid response. Recently, the administration announced $157 million that was issued under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We were directly appropriated $455 million over five years in BIL funds for programs related to the President’s America the Beautiful initiative.

Learn more about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for nine keystone initiatives throughout the Department of Interior. The national EDRR Framework is one of those nine. The foundation of initiative is working with lead management authorities to identify priorities, develop new tools and technologies, and building detection and response capacity in creating a national network. 

There is now a working mission statement that states the mission of the EDRR Framework is to find and eradicate invasive species new to the United States, or those demonstrating secondary spread, by coordinating across Federal and non-Federal partners and investing in innovative surveillance and data integration and response capabilities for natural resource management. 

Horizon scans are underway to identify species at risk of entering the United States or move across ecosystems, watershed boundaries, and asset specific areas or jurisdictions. These species are prioritized for early detection and rapid response and invasion hotspot analyses. Improvements to surveillance technology ensure that accurate species identification occurs and that reporting and responding takes place quickly. Other projects being developed include a molecular lab network to process molecular samples and provide sample design and guidance. Enhancing the terrestrial aspect of eDNA tracking is also important for the EDRR Framework. Funds are going to DOI lands and waters and the bureaus that manage these habitats. Funds will also be directed to critical water management infrastructure through the Bureau of Reclamation and the USFWS’s National Fish Hatchery System to protect those assets from invasive species. 

Pilots are also underway to refine surveillance of invasion hotspots. In fiscal year 2024, there is one pilot that will be occurring in the Southeast region. Four additional pilots are expected to be implemented in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. DOI further recognizes the importance of citizen science, especially for detecting late arriving species. An investment is being made for citizen spotters and reporting. The final project update is a DOI interjurisdictional rapid response team. This work will support rapid response actions across jurisdictions and in support of and at the request of the management authorities. 

With all of these projects, it is key to receive partner engagement and that will be accomplished through coordination of projects and of the framework itself. Ensuring a cohesive and integrated effort for national EDRR is essential and must be done through outreach. Ensuring that partners' insights and needs are considered and incorporated into these types of projects. The interjurisdictional invasive species rapid response team is a perfect example. DOI's investments in advancing this Framework will benefit investment and that of our management partners. It does that by providing tools and technologies that will offer prioritization and do so with efficient means. EDRR information will be made easily accessible so that actions can be strategic and decision making rapid. Rapid response funding will provide for on the ground action in an expedited fashion. Surveillance and response capacity will increase collective action, so it is focused on the right species at the right time with the right tools. Overall, the National EDRR framework will be used to connect and leverage the expertise that is occurring on the landscape and enable a comprehensive program to detect US interests from invasive species. 

EDRR Subcommittee Updates: 

Wesley Daniel (U.S. Geological Survey) provided an update on the EDRR subcommittee. Activities included administering the pilot rapid response fund as part of the EDRR Framework, 

Further, there are a lot of BIL funded projects that are currently utilizing or developing techniques for eDNA along with the toolbox, which is being created to help inform managers eDNA, its use, and all of the caveats associated with it. One goal is to add data layers to the NAS database to go alongside the eDNA detection. A three-year capacity building plan for NAS has been written in draft and is under review. Some stakeholder webinars have been conducted to get feedback on the plan. Finally, the subcommittee is developing a rapid response plan template that can be used for jurisdictions that have never had a rapid response plan created in the past. This objective document is in the final stage of revisions prior to the final review. 

The subcommittee is also working with the Invasive Species Advisory Committee to make recommendations on National EDRR framework. This group was asked to consider questions about what does success of the Framework look like? What should the mission statement look like? How can this potentially be expanded out into the urban world? And are we doing a good job interacting with partners? Answers were proposed for the first two questions, but difficulties were had parsing out a lot of definitive answers to questions three and four. These recommendation will be sent out the ANSTF following this meeting for comment and further consideration by the group. 

Invasive Species Experts Database: 

Aimee Agnew (USGS) and Susan Pasko (USFWS) provided an update on the Invasive Species Experts Database. The database is one of the very first tools that the ANSTF developed with the purpose to answer general public questions about invasive species. Given that the database has become so outdated and under-used, the time has come to update the database with current technology. The revised database will be modernized and expanded and will contain more search terms. Search terms will include species experts, location experts, management experts, taxonomy experts. Another big step is moving beyond just aquatic species. Terrestrial species will be added. 

USGS has been working on the database itself as well as the front-end user interface. The new name SIREN is the new public facing online portal of all of these different database products that are being developed. SIREN as a whole includes more than just the expert’s database. It includes the horizon scan watchlists, the maps of hotspot analyses, and more. Currently, the new database and user interface are in the prototype stage. Within the expert’s database, the goal is to go beyond just who is your regional coordinator and find what other types of expertise you require from the database. Within the filters, you can search by any category within the survey. A demonstration of the new search system was given to attendees. 

Control Subcommittee Discussion: Species Management Plan Decision Making

Kim Bogenschutz (Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies) provided an update on the activity of the Control Subcommittee.  At the January 2024 ANSTF meeting, the Great Lakes Panel had a recommendation that relevant Federal agencies establish a plan to clarify policy implications of research development and deployment of genetic biocontrol tools. Part of the recommendation was that the ANSTF should set up a work group dedicated to the topic of genetic biocontrol to facilitate communication among regional panels, relevant Federal agencies, researchers, etc. The recommendation was also made that the relevant Federal agencies should engage tribes and indigenous nations in discussions regarding the development and deployment of genetic biocontrol tools. The Control Subcommittee's recommendation is that the ANSTF set up a work group dedicated to the topic of genetic biocontrol that is staffed with an interdisciplinary team of genetic experts and some invasive species managers. Biocontrol is a separate discipline from what we traditionally think of as control methods to suppress invasive species. The field of genetics in general is rapidly evolving and requires specialized experts that are vastly different than most people who are invasive species managers. The Control Subcommittee has drafted a memo outlining a potential scope including the eDNA surveillance topic, the development and validation of genetic markers, using genetics to identify species and populations, determining a species population of origin or different spreads, and determining the extent of species hybridization.  

The Subcommittee has been working on its control plan decision making process. We have two pieces of our guidance already approved, and that's the development process and the content guidance. We were working on the part to determine when a new control plan should be developed and when an existing plan should be archived. Once these parts are complete, each section will be combined into a final control plan guidance document and sent to the ANTF for approval.

The EGC plan was approved today. The New Zealand mud snail plan is still under development.  Charlie Robertson from Gulf State Marine Fisheries Commission has agreed to become the Lionfish Management Plan liaison. The Great Lakes Panel is currently considering archival of the Ruff Management Plan as it is inactive and been replace by other activities, The subcommittee is currently looking for an individual to serve as a plan liaison for the Snakehead management plan.

Public Comment: 

No public comment. 

Motion to Adjourn

There was a motion to adjourn, and it was seconded.  There was no discussion. The meeting was adjourned¹. 

 ¹Minutes were chair certified for accuracy on July 30, 2024.