Overview
The Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force was established by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (reauthorized in 1996 with the passage of the National Invasive Species Act) as a multi-agency body dedicated to preventing and controlling ANS (also known as aquatic , or AIS). On May 8-9, 2024, the ANS Task Force held a public meeting, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The meeting was held at Saratoga Spa State Park (Saratoga Springs, NY), with a virtual participation option. The following is an executive summary of the meeting. Additional details about the meeting, including the agenda and detailed meeting minutes can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/program/aquatic-nuisance-species-task-force/meetings.
Attendance
The full list of attendees, including the names of individuals present, are recorded in the full meeting minutes. In addition to members below, representatives from each of the 6 regional panels were in attendance.
Federal:
- Bureau of LandManagement
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Maritime Administration
- National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration
- U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S Department of Agriculture
- U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency
- U.S. Fish andWildlife
- U.S. ForestService
- U.S. GeologicalSurvey
Ex-officio:
- Great Lakes Commission
- Lake Champlain Basin Program
- Chesapeake Bay Program
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership
- Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
- Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
- Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resources Association
- Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
- Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Meeting Agenda Highlights
Update Reports:
- USGS NAS Database: New Species Occurrences
- Marine Rapid Assessment Surveys
- Interstate Transport of AIS-Infested Watercraft
- Early Detection Rapid Response Framework Implementation
- Species Management Plan Decision Making
Decisional Items:
- European Green Crab Management Plan (approved)
- New Jersey State ANS Management Plan (approved)
Discussion Topics:
- Invasion of Hydrilla in the Northeast
- Ballast Water Intergovernmental Response Framework
- Grass Carp Management Recommendations
- Soft coral invasions in the Pacific and Caribbean
Informative Presentations:
- Signals of Climate Change and Biological Invasions in the Northeast
- Champlain Canal as an AIS pathway
- Regional efforts for Behavior Change
- Rhode Island Ballast Water Management Plan
Action Items
- 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.
- 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.
- The Prevention Subcommittee 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 for a workgroup to assist the development of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) Intergovernmental Response Framework.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Regional Panel Recommendations
Northeast Panel, Western Regional Panel, and Mississippi River Basin Panel
- 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
- 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).
For More Information
Contact: Susan Pasko - Executive Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
