News : Asian Carp Work Group Meeting Proceedings, Columbia, MO - 5/24/2004 (pdf, 11.46 Mb)

Asian Carp Sea Lamprey Round Goby Eurasian Ruffe Zebra Mussel

What Is an Aquatic Nuisance Species?

An aquatic nuisance species is a fish, mollusc, or other aquatic organism that is not native to an area and is considered to be a nuisance or threat to native species. There are over a number of aquatic nuisance species that have been identified nationwide and there are a number of these species within Region 3.

Why We Need to Manage Aquatic Nuisance Species

Aquatic nuisance species threaten the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on those waters.

Some Aquatic Nuisance Species Found in Region 3

At right are some aquatic nuisance species that we work with in Region 3. Select an image to link to more information about the species.

How We Manage Aquatic Nuisance Species

More than 20 Federal agencies are involved with preventing and controlling aquatic nuisance species, in cooperation with States, Tribes, private industry, and others.

The fishery program seeks to prevent and reduce the establishment and spread of aquatic nuisance species by providing leadership in collaborative efforts to implement activities and programs that prevent the establishment of aquatic nuisance species, by partnering to develop methods and conduct programs designed to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species to new locations and limit the growth of established populations.

We meet these goals by partnering in initiatives to identify and monitor high-risk pathways for introductions and participating in preventative actions to reduce introductions. We support State management plans and work to fulfill the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act.

Efforts within Region 3 to manage aquatic nuisance species include conducting surveillance, control, and monitoring for aquatic nuisance species in Great Lakes and Big Rivers areas. We control sea lamprey within the Great Lakes Basin. We also serve on the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species and support national and state initiatives to combat invasives and provide educational materials.

For more information view the following posters: . Sea Lamprey Management in the Great Lakes (pdf-226Kb)     Preventing Movements of Invasive Fish Between the Mississippi River and Great Lakes Basins (pdf-500Kb) .. Get the Free Adobe Reader required to view pdf files.

Other interesting aquatic nusiance species links:

• Aquatic Invasive Species: Interbasin Exchange Fact Sheet (pdf, 424 Kb)
• USFWS Alpena FRO,MI - Aquatic Nuisance Species Web Page
• USFWS Ashland FRO,WI - Aquatic Nuisance Species Web Page
• USFWS La Crosse FRO,WI - Non-native Species Control Web Page
• ANS Task Force
• Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species
• Invasivespecies.gov
• Protect Your Waters
• Sea Grant Non-Indigenous Species Site
• USGS Invasive Species Information Node
• USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Site
• USFWS Department of Environmental Quality - Invasive Species
• Wisconsin Sea Grant

State invasive exotic nusiance species links:

Indiana DNR - Invasive Species | Iowa DNR - Nuisance Species | Michigan DEQ - Aquatic Nuisance Control | Minnesota DNR - Harmful Exotic Species Program | Missouri DC - Exotic Species | Ohio DNR - Aquatic Nuisance Species | Wisconsin DNR - Aquatic Invasive Species

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