Abstract

A training program throughout the Great Lakes to use ANS-HACCP to reduce the risk of spreading exotic species by teaching resource managers, researchers, baitfish dealers, and enforcement officers how to develop and utilize appropriate HACCP plans.

Issue

Biologists, ecologists, agency representatives, and concerned stakeholders (i.e., anglers, environmentalists) are concerned about the impact of exotic invasive species. These stakeholders realize that the potential exists for both aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and some fish pathogens and parasites, often referred to as biological pollution, to spread to uninfested waters through two significant pathways: First, the movement of equipment (i.e. boats, trailers, nets, waders, water collection devices, etc.) used by federal, state, tribal and private resource researchers, managers, consultants, and enforcement personnel and secondly, through the transfer of baitfish and fish raised for stocking into public and private waters.

Response

The project uses a train-the-trainer approach to develop leaders in natural resource management agencies and other organizations and private businesses. At state workshops, New York Sea Grant provided these leaders with the tools and capabilities to teach the ANS-HACCP approach to others in their agencies, organizations, or private businesses. Workshop attendees (future ANS-HACCP trainers) have been encouraged to develop multidisciplinary ANS-HACCP teams after they return to their agency/organization/business that will assess all the risks that their activities may pose. Application of ANS-HACCP to research, management, consulting, and enforcement activities in addition to baitfish and fish rearing and stocking activities will ensure that the investment in previous ANS-HACCP efforts will not fade away and that there will be significant impacts.

Impact

For the New York Sea Grant portion of the project, over 40 federal, state, tribal, and private resource researchers, managers, baitfish dealers, and enforcement personnel have gone through this New York Sea Grant training in three day-long workshops in Buffalo, New York, the Lake Champlain region, and in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Training workshops have used a proven (validated through workshop evaluations) 1-day format that includes training, hands-on activities, and development of draft ANS-HACCP plans by participants. Using their newly developed HACCP plans, participants are expected to return to their agency/organization/business and assess all the risks that their activities may pose to the spread of invasive species. The use of these HACCP plans will allow participants to reduce the spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and some fish pathogens and parasites to uninfested waters. Participants have been provided with a newly developed a manual, video, ANS identification sheets, and other supplemental materials for the curriculum. All materials including the PowerPoint presentations used at the workshops that have been placed on CD-ROMs and provided to participants so they will use the materials to train others.

Funding Sources

• Private (e.g., commodity groups, foundations, companies)
• Great Lakes Protection Fund

Collaborators

• University of Minnesota Sea Grant
• Illinois/Indiana Sea Grant
• Purdue University
• Pennsylvania Sea Grant
• Ohio Sea Grant

Key Personnel

• Jeffrey L. Gunderson, University of Minnesota Sea Grant
• Helen Domske, New York Sea Grant (Cornell University), SUNY at Buffalo
• Brian Miller, Illinois/Indiana Sea Grant, Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
• Philip Moy, Wisconsin Sea Grant
• Eric Obert, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, Penn State
• Frederic L. Snyder, Ohio Sea Grant
• Ronald Kinnunen, Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan State University
• Michael Klepinger, Michigan Sea Grant
• Douglas A. Jensen, University of Minnesota Sea Grant