Asian Carp Threat to the Great Lakes

Photo: asiancarp.org

Latornell Conference Nov 18, 2010.

Scott Millard – Fisheries & Oceans Burlington

Outline• Overview - AIS Problem in the Great

Lakes.• The Canadian Action Plan to Address the

Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species.• Role of Risk Assessment• Asian Carp Threat• U.S. & Canadian Prevention Efforts

• Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a major threat to Canada’s aquatic ecosystems and resources.

• Second leading cause of freshwater fish species becoming at risk (Dextrase and Mandrak 2006).

• Number in Great Lakes = 182+; approximate rate of increase = one every 6-9 months.

• Sea Lamprey, Dreissenid mussels and Round Goby may be the best known examples.

Background

F = Freshwater

M = Marine

N/D = Not Detected

* Approx. # non-native species in Canada based on available data. National database is currently in the process of being updated.

F:183

F:11F:11F:8

F:23

M:71F:5

M:8

N/D

N/DN/D

M:83Atlantic

F:1

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Background

Action Plan/Implementation Strategy• Fed-Prov Task Group developed the Canadian Action Plan to

Address the Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species. ImplementationStrategy submitted in September 2005.

• Culminated in federal funding for 5 years under Budget 2005.

• Funding extended to 2015 under Budget 2015.

• Focus on prevention and pathways, not single species.

• Priorities are: risk assessment (biological and socio-economic) , early detection/monitoring, research, enhanced communications.

• No funding for rapid response planning.

• Development of a regulatory framework will continue.

Federal Roles - DFO

• DFO is the federal lead for aquatic invasive species– Science Sector co-chairs the National Aquatic

Invasive Species Committee (NAISC)– provides science advice to Transport Canada on

ballast water– conducts science activities such as research,

monitoring and risk assessment.– rapid response responsibilities currently being

defined.

Federal Roles - Other Departments• Environment Canada leads the coordination of the National

Strategy for Addressing the Threat of Invasive Alien Species

• Transport Canada is responsible for ballast water regulation and management under the Canada Shipping Act

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency to conduct and contribute to risk assessments of aquatic plants, and contribute to live food fish risk assessments

• Canada Border Services Agency collects data on imports of non-indigenous aquatic species, and contributes to AIS risk assessments

Risk Analysis• Goal of an aquatic invasive species (AIS)

program should be prevention.– economic and ecological costs of prevention are far

less than managing AIS after introduction.• Risk analysis is key to achieving goal.• Biological risk assessment is a fundamental part

of risk analysis and a prevention program.– Scientifically defensible information for decision-makers

to prevent potential, or deal with ongoing, invasive species.

Initiation

Identify hazards

Estimate the likelihood of occurrence

Estimate the magnitude of the consequences

Develop conclusions and

describe uncertainty

Identify mitigation options

Evaluate mitigation options for efficacy, feasibility, impacts

Develop recommendations and describe uncertainty

Decision

Communication of decision

RISK ASSESSMENT (Science)RISK MANAGEMENT

RISK COMMUNICATIONRISK MANAGEMENT

RISK ANALYSIS = assessment + management + communication

Risk Assessment from Arrival to Impact

• Likelihood of Introduction + Uncertainty– Arrival– Survival– Establishment – Spread

• Magnitude of Impact + Uncertainty• Overall Risk = Introduction x Impact

Use of Risk Assessments• Provide direction for further research.• Identify high risk species and pathways for monitoring.• Identify vulnerable areas for early detection.• Assist in Rapid Response decision analysis.• Advise policy on high risk species and pathways for

regulation.• Analyze effectiveness of regulations – did they

decrease risk? • Support tool for screening large number of species

(import or pathway)• Development and implementation of prohibition lists

Asian Carps - Background

Asian Carps=

Grass Carp Black Carp

Bighead CarpSilver Carp

Photos: asiancarp.org

Asian Carp Threat - Background• Bighead and Silver carp imported into the southern U.S. for use in

aquaculture facilities.• Escaped in the 1980s and have moved north ever since.• Dominate the Mississippi and Illinois River systems comprising more

than 95% of the biomass in some areas.• Silver and Bighead are voracious planktivores that can filter a broad

size range of plankton and grow to over 100 pounds• Consume 5-20% of body weight each day. • Potential competitors with native fish for forage base.• Grass Carp are vegetation eaters and Black Carp are a threat to

native molluscs.• The Great Lakes thought to be at risk through the Chicago

Waterway System. An Artificial connection that connects the Great Lakes to the Illinois and eventually the Mississippi River.

• A significant but not the only pathway for Asian carp to enter the Great Lakes.

• .

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POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION-SILVER CARP

Herborg, L-M., N.E. Mandrak, B. Cudmore and H.J. MacIssac. 2007. Comparative distribution and invasion risk of snakehead and Asian carp species in North America. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 64: 1723-1735.

Chicago Area Rivers Before and After Diversion

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Asian Carps- One Vulnerable Area for Entry

graphic: asiancarp.org

U.S. Control and Prevention Activities.

• Dec 2009 eradication allowed maintnenance of barrier IIa. DFO & OMNR participation.

• Eradication below O’Brien Lock, May 2010 in response to eDNA detection.

• Ongoing early detection program throughout the canal system for fish and eDNA.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed 13 miles of fencing along the Des Plaines River. Prevent introduction to canals during flood events.

• Construction of barrier IIB completed, power on. Testing in December, fully operational in early 2011.

• Risk assessment in 2005 led to provincial ban on live possession of Asian Carp

• Oct 2010 DFO Minister announces 415K investment in Asian Carp research to support Canada’s involvement in a binational risk assessment for Silver and Bighead Carp.– Using Canadian guidelines developed by DFO’s Centre of Expertise on

Aquatic Risk Assessment (CEARA).– First official binational science meeting this week in Detroit.

• AIS specific regulations currently being developed under the Fisheries Act.

• Simulation exercise underway to prepare for Asian Carp introduction.• AIS are being dealt with as an issue within the Great Lakes Water

Quality Agreement negotiations currently underway with the U.S. A possible future opportunity for funding the management of AIS.

Canadian Investment in PreventionPast, Present and Future.

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Risk Assessment- Key Needs and Activities

• Determine allpotential entry points.

• Is there an adequate food supply. Where?

Michigan Tech, Great Lake Image Archive

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• Suitable tributaries for spawning.– Approx 1500 creeks

and river mouths but not all are suitable for spawning.

• Impacts (biological, socio-economic).

Risk Assessment- Key Needs and Activities

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Benefits• Better understanding of

potential pathways, areas for establishment, and impacts.

• More effectively target prevention and monitoring activities.

• Results will be available to both countries to support a more coordinated management approach and domestic policy and regulatory decisions.

Preparing For Threat of Asian Carp Invasion• Simulation exercise in planning stages co-led by

OMNR and DFO.• How will agencies react to a reported

introduction.• Table top exercise to determine readiness for a

real invasion.• Goal is to help clarify roles and responsibilities.• Identify gaps and impediments to implementing

an effective response in the event of a real introduction.

How to Find Out More About Asian Carp

• Visit www.asiancarp.org• Updated Asian Carp Control

Strategy Framework.• Asian Carp Control Plan.• Background.• Risk Assessments.• Monitoring and Sampling.

Photo: glfc.org

Environmental DNA – Sampling a Plume