The Governor’s Invasive Species Council is now circulating a final draft aquatic invasive species management plan for review and consideration by the Council, according to Sarah N. Whitney, Chair of the Council’s AIS Management Plan Committee.

The goal of the plan is to minimize the harmful ecological, economic and human health impacts of AIS through the prevention and management of their introduction, expansion and dispersal into, within and from Pennsylvania. Specifically, the Plan has these objectives—

· Provide leadership and coordination for AIS issues in Pennsylvania among local, state and federal agencies and organizations, and ensure that state policy effectively promotes the prevention, early detection and control of aquatic invasive species in Pennsylvania. Establish coordination and provide leadership within the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes October 31, 2006 4 regions in order to address AIS issues more effectively, including prevention, advanced warning and concerted efforts in drainage basins shared across state lines;

· Identify vectors and mechanisms and minimize the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species into and throughout Pennsylvania;

· Detect new introductions of aquatic invasive species in Pennsylvania before they have a chance to become established in the ecosystem;

· Develop a system for early response to eradicate or contain target species before the species can become permanently established;

· Monitor and inventory existing infestations of aquatic invasive species in Pennsylvania;

· When feasible, control and eradicate established aquatic invasive species that have significant impacts in Pennsylvania. Reduce the harmful effects resulting from AIS infestations by managing those that cannot be eradicated;

· Increase research efforts on AIS species, issues and impacts to support AIS management, control and eradication in Pennsylvania; and

· Educate the general public and people involved in the business, trade, research and government sectors about AIS issues so that they do not facilitate the introduction or spread of AIS species.

A copy of the Invasive Aquatic Species Plan is available online.

For more information contact Sarah Whitney, who is with the Pennsylvania Sea Grant Program, by sending email to: swhitney@psu.edu or calling 610-304-8753.

11/24/2006