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Ohio Sea Grant College Program
and Stone Laboratory

Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory

Research > Search > Aquatic Invasive Species

Report on Sea Grant-Supported Nonindigenous Species Projects

Project Number: A/NIS-006, Progress Report

Start Date: 3/1/2003

Completion Date: 8/31/2004

Principal Investigator(s)1.Karen T. Ricker, The Ohio State University*
This shows the current affiliation and may not match affiliation at time of participation. *

Funding Record

Source: Ohio Sea Grant College Program
Source FundState MatchPass Through
Total$ 99,999.00$ 0.00$ 0.00

Objectives

To provide researchers, decision- and policy-makers, industry, reporters, environmental associations, the concerned public, and Sea Grant outreach personnel and other staff with a report of Sea Grant-supported research and outreach projects that focused on aquatic nuisance species.

Rationale

Invasion by nonindigenous (non-native) species is one of the most challenging environmental issues facing natural resource managers and environmental policy makers today. Aquatic nuisance species are causing significant ecological and economic problems throughout many areas of the U.S. Species such as zebra mussels, round gobies, Japanese shore crabs, green crabs, Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, and Asian clams - to name a few - have been introduced into waterbodies throughout the country. Once established, these species have the potential to displace native species, drastically alter aquatic ecosystems, and interfere with business and recreational pursuits.

In response to the invasion of the Great Lakes by the zebra mussel in the mid 1980s, Congress passed the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act in 1990 (Public Law 101-646). In 1996 the Act was reauthorized as the National Invasive Species Act (NISA), and included an amendment that called for the development of national voluntary guidelines to prevent the spread of ANS through boating and fishing, and other recreational activities. Sea Grant has responded by making funding for ANS projects a priority. Sea Grant has been a national leader, responding to the ANS problem with research and outreach projects that have slowed the spread and reduced the ecologic and economic impact of ANS. And Ohio Sea Grant has the distinction of initiating the first research project through its development fund on November 15, 1988. Ohio Sea Grant has prepared four ANS reports on behalf of the National Sea Grant College Program and is well qualified to prepare the fifth report. The reports have allowed researchers and outreach specialists - not only those funded by Sea Grant but also those funded by other agencies and industries - to determine what is being studied and by whom. The reports have also been distributed to decision-makers and policy-makers at the local, state, and federal level; to management staff and researchers of municipal and industrial water users; to reporters around the nation; to educators; environmental organizations, and to the interested public. All have used the reports a source document, and as a directory to identify ANS experts. The fifth report, proposed here, will document research and outreach projects funded from 1998-2002. The report will be published in print form, and will also be available on-line through the Internet.

Methodology

  1. Establish project committee, project database, develop submission guidelines, and contact programs and request information for each research and outreach project.
  2. Review and organize project information submitted by the programs, write and edit report, send out sections for review as needed, and finalize text.
  3. Design and produce report, distribute reports and post on web site.