AERF 411

Next Week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week

2012-02-23T08:36:00.000-05:00

You know things are serious when a cause gets it's own week named after it. Sure they have numerous weeks of awareness that most people are definitely not aware of, but still. It's good to see a cause like the fight against the spread of invasive species get the attention and credibility it deserves.

In Washington D.C., many leaders and organizations will gather next week to discuss methods for control and to think of solutions to fix this problem. The week includes "activities, briefings, workshops and events focused on strategizing solutions to address invasive species prevention, detection, monitoring, control, and management issues at local, state, tribal, regional, national and international scales."

This is truly a national effort and will include organizations including: The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds, the Great Lakes Commission, the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, the United States Botanic Garden, and many others.

For more info check out their website.

So what are you going to do to celebrate NISAW?

Who Pays the Price for Invasive Species?

2012-02-16T22:18:00.000-05:00

We all pay for invasive species one way or another. It could be the cost of lost access, poor water quality or even complete decimation of our favorite body of water; but invasive species cost everyone financially as well.

The StarTribune in Minnesota recently published an article entitled "Who pays for invasive species battle? How much?" that outlines just how expensive this problem is becoming. It's not just Minnesota, this is something that is happening across the country. The DNR in Minnesota used the services of a consulting firm to find out exactly how much it would cost to help prevent the spread. The numbers are huge. According to the article the "The annual costs range from around $8.6 million, which is what the DNR will spend in the coming year, to the $600 million for total boat inspections. And even those eye-popping numbers don't cover prevention efforts for Asian carp."

If those numbers do not get your attention, nothing will. As we all know, these costs will ultimately be passed on to the taxpayers. Since much of the most frequent users of these water resources are boaters and fishermen; we will be an easy target for additional taxes and regulations. It would be easy for the states to increase the taxes and additional fees for boat registration, fishing tackle, boat ramps, gas, fishing tournaments and many more things that are crucial items needed for someone looking to spend an enjoyable day on the water.

The costs and fees are something to watch. Without getting involved in the politics and efforts of legislators, the best thing to do is to do your part to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. We know you agree that this is something that needs to be watched.

Aquatic Invasive Species: World Wide

2012-02-09T08:40:00.000-05:00

The fight against non-native and invasive aquatic species is something that is happening across the world. We recently came across a video from the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat that showcases the problems with invasive species. If you didn't notice the British accents you could easily mistake this problem as something that is happening here in the U.S. The video offers tips on ways to prevent the spread; cleaning trailers, checking to make sure bilge water is emptied and cleaning waders and other fishing equipment. These are truly universal techniques that do help prevent the spread of these species. No matter what continent you reside, the message is worldwide.

In the video they are fighting the spread of "killer shrimp", but that could easily be replaced with the message of stopping the spread of Asian Carp, Zebra Mussells or plant species such as hydrilla and Eurasian Watermilfoil.

While the terms, dialects and accents change, the mission remains the same; fight the spread of aquatic invasive species! Check out the video for some universal tips to prevent the spread of invasive species.

If you can't beat 'em, then eat 'em

2012-02-01T21:19:00.000-05:00

Illinois officials have come up with a new idea that they hope will help to prevent the spread of the infamous invasive Asian carp. Their idea is to simply eat the fish. By creating a demand for the fish, they hope that they will be more sought after for commercial fishing. Solving two problems at once; removing an invasive problem and also fighting hunger. As the article says, protein from food is one of the most sought after and also most expensive foods around and there is plenty to go around, in the form of the Asian Carp.

A partnership beteween the Division of Natural Resouces and Target Hunger Now! is hoping to use the resource to distribute food to charities across Illinois. The groups have teamed up with a chef to show different ways to use the fish as a food source. They even got the help from a well-known chef to show ways to cook the fish.

Courtesy of chef Philippe Parola

Chef Philippe Parola from Baton Rouge, La., displays a carp filet with Eiffel Tower potatoes.

However, they are facing an uphill battle in trying to change the image of this fish. For one, it is a carp and that is a fish that is not often associated with fine dining. The other they say is that Americans are "lazy eaters...we don’t respect flavor. We just grab what is convenient,” Parola said. Consumers also have become spoiled by chefs taking the bones out of fish."

This got us thinking. What's next on the menu? Zebra mussels with a side dish of Eurasian milfoil?

In case you wanted to know, here is the actual recipe:

Silver Fin Almandine recipe from chef Philippe Parola
4 filets of silver fin
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 ounces unsalted butter
3 ounces white wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup roasted almonds

Season silver fin to taste. Heat olive oil and butter in a sautee pan until very hot. Place filets in the pan and brown both sides. Add white wine and lemon juice. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until done. Top the filets with the sauce and roasted almonds

Phone App for Reporting Invasive Species

2012-01-24T12:23:00.001-05:00

Technology and the fight to prevent the spread of invasive species continue to work together. A few weeks ago, we mentioned the use of DNA bar-coding to catalog and prevent the spread, and now this...

As a sign of the times we are living in, a new smart phone app that allows users to report invasive species in the wild has been developed. The app is first being implemented in Florida and was created by the University of Georgia's Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.

The article mentions how exotic plants and animals "cause and estimated $500 million in crop damage and costs in eradication methods according to Florida Wildlife experts."

While originally designed to notify wildlife officials about the presence of invasive plant species on land, we see the potential for it to be used in aquatic invasive species control. How easy would it be to go to the app while you were on the water, take a photo and send it to officials with your exact GPS location? This could be big and would make sure that accurate information is transferred instantly. As you can see from the financial numbers mentioned above, this is a big problem whether it is happening in the water or on dry land. Let's hope this app continues to evolve as we fight the spread of invasive species.

MSU scholarship to benefit aquatic research

2012-01-16T12:14:00.002-05:00

Michigan State University continues to be on the leading edge of education and research that help to conserve natural resources and protect our waterways from the spread of invasive species.

The University recently established "an endowed scholar program to ensure healthy environments for fish and aquatic resources". This type of scholarship program and cooperation with educational leaders and government agencies is exactly what the AERF believes in; Research, Education and Cooperation are pillars of the AERF.

"The Stanislaus F. Snieszko Endowed Scholar Program in Aquatic Animal Medicine, named for a world-renowned fish health scientist, will be a catalyst to bridge science with policy and provide leadership to public and private organizations to conserve the nation’s wildlife, aquatic animals and related natural resources."

Scholarships like this are crucial to support the research and education neccessary to control the spread of invasive plants and animals in our waterways. With the support of agencies like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the university’s Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management Program as well as with related industries and non-governmental organizations, this is truly a team effort.

We applaud those involved and believe that the research from the scholarship will benefit us all.

Invasive Species: A Threat to National Security....Seriously

2012-01-03T15:43:00.001-05:00

When we first saw this article from Environmental Protection Online, we didn't exactly know what they meant when they said "Giant Weed Creates Threat to Our Nation's Ecosystems and Border Security", but now we understand.

We all know that invasive aquatic species are bad; they damage ecosystems, destroy native fish and plant habitat and cause numerous problems to humans, but calling them a treat to border security is something new.

So how exactly does a plant cause a security threat? The plant species in question is the Giant Reed (Arundo donax) also known as Carrizo cane in Texas. Basically it is a large bamboo like plant that can grow up to 32 feet tall. It gets this big by using up all the water it can find (damaging ecosystems in the process). In addition to just using large amount of water, it's stems and leaves also create a toxic chemical that makes it unattractive to animals and insects which otherwise might have helped to reduce the spread by eating it.

Since it has continues to grow without any control, the weed has become a nuisance in several areas along the U.S. border in Texas. According to the article, the giant reed "is encroaching on the water, overrunning international border access roads, and creating a dense cover for illegal activities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has called for a plan to control this weed."

This is something that should be taken seriously, especially now that Homeland Security is involved.

So not only does it take up all the water, create a chemical so nothing will eat it, but now it is causing problems to security on the U.S. border.

The good news is that help is on the way, in the form of a wasp. The "eurytomid wasp has been tested in a small area of release and found to be a specific enemy to the giant reed, and unlikely to harm native plants."

In addition to the use of the wasps, they are also using aerial photos and remote sensing technology to differentiate between the Giant Reed and other plant species. It will be interesting to see how these strategies play out in the fight against the Giant Reed.

The Twelve Days of Aquatic Invasive Species Christmas

2011-12-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

We just came across something written by Tim Campbell of the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute that really made us smile. They have put together a nice list in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" theme that focuses on aquatic invasive species.

As they say "‘Tis the season to spread some holiday cheer, and of course, ‘tis always the season to spread aquatic invasive species awareness."

Check out the entire post here.

Restrictions on Live Bait to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

2011-12-13T09:25:00.002-05:00

The spread of aquatic invasive species continues to change how we, as fisherman, do things. Invasive Species are here in the U.S. and will continue to spread if we are not all active and diligent in doing our part to help control the spread. Lawmakers across the country are adding regulations to prevent the spread.

The latest news is from Kansas, where the "Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commissioners acted on regulations governing the use and movement of wild-caught live bait fish and the transport of fish from waters designated as having aquatic nuisance species (ANS) present."

This makes sense, control the spread of species by preventing anglers from unknowingly transporting invasive species from one body of water to the next. This seems like a good way to make sure that the species stay where they are and makes it much easier to spread.

This is from the Salina Journal News article last week: Biologists have identified the movement of wild-caught bait fish and water as a significant factor in the spread of these dangerous species. With the passage of these regulations, anglers will be restricted to using wild-caught bait fish caught only from the waters where they are fishing or using live bait fish purchased from certified bait dealers.

We all know invasive species are bad, but as a reminder; these are some of the negative effects listed in the article:

Diminished food supplies and degraded habitat for other species;
Reduced numbers and variety of desirable fish;
Reduced fishing and other recreational opportunities;
Lowered property values and decreased quality of municipal water sources;
Fouled water lines, clogged intakes, burned out pumps, damaged power generating facilities, and decreased water system efficiency; and
Increased risk of flooding due to overcrowded biomass and clogging of lake outlets.

In addition to this, you can view the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan to see what Kansas is doing to prevent the spread.

Using DNA to Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

2011-11-29T08:45:00.001-05:00

The advancement and widespread use of DNA has changed the way we do many things in life, it has helped to solve criminal cases that have been mysteries for years. DNA has also proved to be helpful with solving many of life's other problems. Now DNA may help prevent one of the biggest problem's facing our waters. A recent news story out of Canada discusses the idea of using DNA to prevent fraudulent food and also to help stop aquatic invasive species from crossing over borders. The reason this is possible is because of a new idea called DNA barcoding, basically a catalog and database of every plant and animal species and their unique DNA.

"The DNA creates a so-called barcode that can identify real ingredients in food, quickly analyze water quality and reveal how the environment has changed"

The article also goes on to describe how this science can be used by border agencies to "use a special quarantine barcode library to quickly detect agricultural pests, disease-carrying insects, fungi and invasive species before entering a country"

Isn't science great? We can use all the help we can get to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Some Tips for Preventing the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

2011-11-19T13:24:00.001-05:00

One of the problems with invasive aquatic species is that they can spread very quickly. Often, they multiply and grow at large rates every day during warmer months. Besides the natural spread, they can also spread from different bodies of water. How does this happen? Often, it is the result of boaters who fail to clean their boats and boat trailers before going to on the next boating trip.

These "aquatic hitchhikers" as they are often called are all to often transported to different bodies of water. This happens across the country and most of the time the recreational users are completely unaware that they are part of the reason they spread so easily. With a little caution and awareness, we can help to stop the spread.

The Minnesota DNR has created a series of pubic service announcements that focus on the spread of aquatic invasive species.

This is a big problem in Minnesota, and everywhere else, so these PSA's are worth watching.

"It takes just one boater to spread an aquatic invasive species!" Clean, drain, and dry your boat and live wells before leaving the water access!"

Education, Research and the AERF

2011-11-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

As we mentioned in the "What is the AERF?" post a few weeks back, education and training our future scientists on the best practices for managing invasive aquatic species is a vital part of what the AERF does. Working with government and private agencies as well as leading research universities all play a role in the future of the AERF and the nation as a whole.

How do we do it? We support research that benefits us all. For example, we worked with the University of Santa Cruz on the issue of invasive tamarisk impacts. The studies conducted by the University helped to aid the National Invasive Species Council's economic assessment of tamarisk management options for the west.

In Florida, we were part of the group evaluating low-risk herbicide methods of controlling hydrilla. Working with the University of Florida's Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (as well as the US Army Corps of Engineers and FL Department of Environmental Protection), studies were conducted to provide information and guidance to decision makers in the selective control of invasive aquatic species hydrilla.

We work closely with Academic Institutions across the country and count the following as partners.

Clemson University
Colorado State University
Louisiana State University
Grand Valley State University
Michigan State University
Minnesota State University
Mississippi State University
North Carolina State University
Portland State University
Purdue University
Rutgers University
Texas A&M
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Maryland
University of North Texas
University of South Carolina
University of Washington
Virginia Tech University
Washington State University

The research and hard work of these Universities along with private and government agencies ensure that continuous research will be done to help control the spread of invasive aquatic species. To show our support, the AERF sponsors graduate stipends and scholarships in the field of aquatic ecology and management to help fund the research to ensure that new ideas are continuously being introduced to the industry.

Invasive Species on TV?

2011-11-10T09:01:00.000-05:00

Here at the AERF, we are fully committed to the control and prevention of invasive aquatic species, but we believe that all invasive species are harmful to the environment. Plants, animals, fish and insects that are not native to our area all do damage. That is why we were intrigued with a new reality show called Silent Invaders. It focuses on the biological, social and economic impacts from invasive species as well as the methods to control the spread.

Wildlife Forever is the group responsible for putting together this new reality series and they share many of the same beliefs that the AERF does, and realize the importance of controlling the spread of invasive species. While this focuses mainly on the invasive species in the Great Lakes region; including the Asian Carp, Zebra/Quagga Mussels, Killer Lamprey and Round Goby; we believe that it is worth watching no matter where you live. The main mission of this series is to show the problems invasive species create.

This quote is from the Invasives 101 Section on their website:

The invasion sounds like a Hollywood movie script, "...aliens are quietly spreading throughout America. They arrive by air, in ships, and over highways. They don't carry identification and the don't stop at borders. Despite...on the lookout...they slip in." National Wildlife Refuge Association

We could not agree more. This is something that needs to be watched and we are happy to see the show being brought to the forefront. To learn more about the show, click here: "Silent Invaders TV"

The Economic Impact of Invasive Aquatic Species

2011-11-07T08:27:00.000-05:00

Invasive aquatic species do harm on many levels; of course they cause problems for the native species of plants and wildlife and create damaging effects to waters used by recreational users. Aside from these negative effects, they also cause a lasting economic impact on everyone. The simple fact is that invasive aquatic species cost money to control and even more to fix the problems they create.

So how big is this problem and more importantly, exactly how much does it cost us? According to a report by H. William Rockwell, Jr., Ph. D, for the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation, entitled "Summary of a Survey of the Literature on the Economic Impact of Aquatic Weeds", he says "it can be conservatively estimated that the values-at-risk from aquatic invasive plants in the US is in the range of billions of dollars per year."

The cost of removing and controlling invasive species does not take into account the additional loss of revenue by less tourism and recreational use. Not only do these aquatic species cost money, they also reduce revenue by those who are affected by businesses in and around water bodies.

That is a large sum of money by anybody's standard and should show that this is a problem that should be taken seriously. The best way to prevent the spending of money on control is to strive to prevent the spread of the invasive species in the first place.

Three of the Most Common Invasive Aquatic Species

2011-10-30T13:41:00.001-04:00

There are a multitude of aquatic species here in North America that can be considered invasive species. Some of them are so common that the average person and recreational user may not even know that are invasive. Three of the most common species are Hydrilla, Eurasian Watermilfoil and Water Hyacinth.

Fishermen are espescially drawn towards hydrilla and water hyacinth, but often do not know that these species are indeed invasive and can actually cause harm to the fisheries themselves. Sure, they do attract species like bass and other gamefish, but it is often the case of having too much of a good thing.

Hydrilla(Hydrilla verticillata Royle)

A quick search of hydrilla on the internet finds terms like "harmful aquatic hitchhiker" and "nuisance species".

So what's the big deal with hydrilla?

Hydrilla grows so fast (up to an inch per day) that it can quickly overwhelm a body of water and can even cause problems with boat navigation as well as clogging culverts and irrigation and water control systems. The University of Florida says that millions of dollars are spent annually in Florida to try to control the species.

In addition, the University's Hydrilla FAQ's state that "When hydrilla invades, ecologically-important native submersed plants such as pondweeds (Potamogeton spp.), tapegrass (Vallisneria americana) and coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) are shaded out by hydrilla's thick mats, or are simply outcompeted, and eliminated (van Dijk 1985)."

Eurasian Watermilfoil(Myriophyllum spicatum L.)

Eurasion Watermilfoil or simply "milfoil" is another invasive plant species that grows quickly and can overwhelm a water body. Much like hydrilla, milfoil can cause problems with boat navigation, fishing and even power generation. The Washington State Department of Ecology calls this species the most problematic of any plant species in their state and have tried several methods to control the spread.

Watermilfoil starts it's growth earlier in the season than many other native species and can grow at a faster rate. What this does is reduce the diversity of plant species and harms native, beneficial plants.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms)

Water Hyacinth is mostly located in the Southeastern United States and also some parts of California. Much like milfoil and hydrilla, this invasive species grows quickly and forms matted layers on the water surface. The dense mats cause problems with photosynthesis (which reduces oxygen levels) and creates a chain reaction that is damaging to native plants and fish species.

Protect Your Waters has a good overview of the environmental, physical and economic impacts of this species.

All three of these species are often seen as short term benefits for fishing and other recreational activities, but the lasting economic and environmental impact is worth noting. The damage done when they are not controlled outweigh the short term benefits.

What is the AERF?

2011-10-24T13:18:00.003-04:00

The AERF, or Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation is an organization dedicated to protecting aquatic ecosystems. The mission of the AERF is “To support research and development that provides strategies and techniques for the environmentally sound management, conservation, and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. To accomplish this mission, the AERF supports research on the biology and ecology of nuisance aquatic and wetland plants, particularly exotic invasive species.”

The AERF is much more than just an organization protecting the waterways from the spread of invasive aquatic species. With three major goals; to provide public education, assists regulatory agencies and provide funding for research, they have taken the role as the leader in the management of invasive aquatic species.

The management of aquatic species is often seen as a negative for certain recreational users, with fishermen in particular, generally opposed to the control of aquatic vegetation. The AERF has made it a priority to provide information that details the benefits and value of effective plant management and conservation. The AERF is not an organization dedicated to the complete removal of aquatic species, but rather a group dedicated to management. Invasive aquatic species affect everyone.

With a goal of assisting regulatory agencies in decisions that impact aquatic plant management, the AERF has worked closely with agencies such as the EPA. Their mission when dealing with regulatory agencies is to ensure that laws affecting homeowners and small companies that utilize aquatic herbicides are scientifically accurate.

In addition, one of the three major goals of the AERF is to fund aquatic plant management research at major universities. This research ensures that the methods to manage aquatic plants stay current and up to date, but also trains future scientists on the best ways to effectively manage invasive aquatic species. This is a long-term goal of the AERF, and they are committed to supporting the development of the next generation of scientists.

As the leader in providing new strategies to control invasive aquatic species, the AERF is continually looking for better ways to manage the spread of these species. This is an issue that affects everyone from homeowners, recreational users, and the general public due to issues related to drinking water quality, flood control and hydropower generation as well as many others. Perhaps the most crucial, is the effects on native plant and animal species, as well as endangered species.

Clearly, this is an issue that affects everyone. We are all in this together. The AERF is unwavering in their mission to work together with all parties involved for effective management of aquatic species.

To learn more about the AERF, go to Aquatics.org