Alberta’s Aquatic Invasive ive Species ies Progr gram am Tanya Rushcall Aquatic Invasive Species Technician Environment & Parks
What are Aquatic c Invasiv ive Specie cies s (AIS)? )? • Non-native; expanding in native range • Little or no natural predators • Pose significant risk to economy, environment, or human health
ADDRESS SSIN ING THE VECTORS RS Sources of Initial introduction Sources of secondary spread
Unaware public enemy #1: Recreational boats!!!
Aquarium um & p pet trade
Fish farms, stocking & private ponds… 7
Water-based based equip ipment ment • Monitoring • Fire management equipment • Pump trucks • Construction • Docks & buoys • Fishing gear 8
Cultural tural releas ases es • Ceremonial releases o Persian New Year o Carp at Christmas • Merit releases 9
Zebra & Quagga Mussels Dreissena polymorpha Dreissena rostriformis bugensis
In Invasive ive Mussels sels • Can live up to 30 days out of water • Filter feeders (up to 1 liter per day per mussel) • Not many feasible control options • Free-floating microscopic larval form (veligers) • Any attached mussel is an invasive mussel (freshwater)
Econom onomic ic Imp mpacts acts • Filling intake pipes, irrigation lines, dam operations • Clogging screens • Requiring new capital and maintenance costs • Increased costs to users • Crop & food production; drinking water & waste water Alberta water-operated infrastructure is valued at $14 billion
Estimated ted annual costs ts of an Alberta ta invasi sive ve musse sel infest statio tion Impact category Annual cost Power generation $5,938,487 Drinking water systems $20,839,921 Boat maintenance $390,600 Recreational fishing $21,830,892 Water management structures $8,841,373 Water diversion intakes $3,910,000 Property value $13,789,500 Non-use No quantified at this time Total annual cost estimated $75,540,773 Neupane, A. An Estimate of Annual Economic Cost of Invasive Dreissenid Mussels to Alberta. ESRD. November 2013
Before… After…
El Dorado, KS, Zebra Mussels 2003
El Dorado, KS, Zebra Mussels 2006
The Alberta rta St Story • Late to the game but here now! • Many accomplishments in the past two years – CMP 2012-13 prototype – Provincial program in 2014 • Dreissenid mussels as a “poster child” • Threat is moving closer: Call to action • Precedent of prevention • We are vulnerable!
Elemen ents ts of the Alberta ta AIS Prog ogram am
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How do we get t the message ge out? Signage & Outreach 21
AIS TV ads
MUSSEL MONITORING 2013 : 55 waterbodies 2014 : 73 waterbodies 2015 : 66 waterbodies 24 Future : MULTI-TAXA!
Watercraft rcraft Inspec ections ions 25
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AIS S Respon onse • 24/7 Hotline: public, other jurisdictions, border, inspectors 1-855-336-BOAT • Operators triage calls & dispatch Fishery Officer • Calls/reports increasing • Rapid response plan for Dreissenid mussels • Mapping of Prussian carp & Flowering rush • Address other potential vectors 28
Decon contamination/Hot tamination/Hot wash h for High h Risk & Fouled led Boats
Mussel sel-fo foule led d boat ats s (2013-15) 15) 2013 : 7 mussel-fouled boats 2014 : 8 mussel-fouled boats 2015 : 17 mussel-fouled boats 30
Response onse – Reports orts & Existing ing Sp Species ies
Fl Flowerin wering g Ru Rush
Pruss ssia ian n Carp
Fisheri heries es (Alberta) lberta) Act t Amendm ndments ents • Creation of prohibited species list – Aquatic invasive plants, inverts and fish – Prohibition on possession – Mussels: DEAD OR ALIVE • Mandatory stopping at designated inspection stations – “ Highways” as defined by Traffic Safety Act • Enhanced authority (re: vectors & conveyances, regulations) – Aquarium/pet industry – Addressing other vectors • Quarantine provisions
Author horit ity of Fisher ery Officer icers • Ministerial Order: Mandatory watercraft inspections • Authority to: – Enforce mandatory inspections of watercraft – Ordering a decontamination or quarantine – Detention/seizure of AIS or conveyance • Origin, dirty, etc. – Soliciting information from subject • Risk of conveyance
Author horit ity of Waterc rcraft ft Inspectors pectors • Limited authority to: – INSPECT – SOLICIT INFORMATION ABOUT WATERCRAFT – TAKE SAMPLES OF SUSPECT SPECIES/WATER – CLEAN OR HOT WATER WASH • Assist an Fishery Officer or Guardian if requested • Appointment required • All other measures require a call to the hotline and a Fishery Officer present
Federal Fisheries Act AIS Regulations • Prohibition on importation, transportation and possession: Quagga & zebra mussels, Asian carp – Assistance at US/CA border • Control of AIS: ESRD Minister listed as a delegated authority – Deposit of deleterious substances for control – Angling as control
Moving Forward • Increase compliance & enforcement • Dedicated & sustainable funding • Multi-taxa focus • Engagement, training opportunities • Partnerships • GOLDFISH & PRUSSIAN CARP!?! – Strategy in development
1-855 855-336 336-BOA OAT Never ver doubt t that t a small group up of thoug ughtf htful ul, , committed tted citizens zens can chang nge e the world; ; indeed eed, , it is the only that t ever er has. . -Margaret et Mead
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