Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Planning Wizard software, shown in this computer screen shot, was developed by the Service to help prevent the spread of invasive species during natural resource management activities.  It is available on the Internet and was used to prepare HACCP plans for La Crosse FRO fish collection methods. - FWS photo

Plans were recently drafted by La Crosse FRO Fishery Biologist Mark Steingraeber to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and fish disease pathogens among waters in four upper Midwest states.  Steingraeber used the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Planning Wizard (version 2.02) software. 

Developed as a tool for natural resource managers by the Service’s Dr. David Britton, this software was used to identify critical control points and simplify the process of creating HACCP plans for FRO activities that could spread aquatic invasive species and fish disease pathogens to new locations. 

This Microsoft Windows-based computer program is available for downloading from the HACCP-Natural Resource Management web site (http://www.haccp-nrm.org/).  Program execution requires a user to type answers to a series of questions about a management activity.  Based on these responses, an activity-specific HACCP plan is created in a standardized format and saved as a Microsoft Word document that can be edited, if needed. 

Based on existing La Crosse FRO equipment maintenance practices designed to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and fish disease pathogens, the Planning Wizard software was used to prepare four draft HACCP plans for a variety of active and passive sampling methods commonly used to collect fish. 

Pending approval, these plans will be implemented by La Crosse FRO staff to provide a documented framework that assures reusable sampling equipment maintained by the office is appropriately treated to prevent the spread aquatic invasive species and fish disease pathogens.