REGIONAL
HELP FOR NIS CONTROL IN THE SOUTHEAST
Biannual
meetings held by two regional panels provide opportunities for
individuals in the Southeast to learn about invasive species and
to work together for their prevention and control.
- Louisiana
Sea Grant is a member of the Gulf
and South Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species.
LSG serves on the panel’s steering committee, its education
and outreach work group, and its pathways and prevention work
group. This panel has almost completed a regional early detection
and rapid response plan that will help Louisiana develop one
for the state.
- Louisiana
Sea Grant is a member of the Mississippi
River Basin Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. LSG serves
on the panel’s education and communications committee.
The panel maintains information on the most troublesome aquatic
invasive species in the Mississippi
Basin. It has produced publications on the pathway associated
with the Chicago Ship Channel that has permitted invasive species
to migrate to and from the Great Lakes into the Mississippi
River, and on some of the possible invasive problems associated
with Asian
carp species.
Federal
Help for NIS Control in the Southeast
Because invasive
species can wreak havoc on elements of the country’s economy
and health, the federal government takes an active interest in
the prevention and control of them. Representatives of the the
president’s cabinet, the Department of Homeland Security,
and the Environmental Protection Agency participate in two major
federal organizations dedicated towards NIS prevention and control.
Over the years, Louisiana Sea Grant has participated in committees
and task forces created for specific purposes by these two major
organizations.
- The National
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force leads in the prevention
and control of aquatic invasive species. It provides guidance
for states in developing invasive species management strategies,
and sponsors research and outreach about specific invasive species
or transportation pathways. It is also a source of funding for
invasive species management. The regional panels are official
committees of one of these federal organizations, the National
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. Louisiana Sea Grant’s
participation in the Gulf and South Atlantic, and the Mississippi
River Basin regional panels also represents participation in
the federal efforts to control NIS.
- The National
Invasive Species Council is implementing the national invasive
species management plan. It coordinates efforts of all government
agencies to prevent and control invasions by both aquatic and
terrestrial NIS.
Louisiana
Sea Grant also participates in two federal education programs
to reduce the spread of aquatic NIS.
- Protect
Your Waters helps citizens of all types take precautions
to prevent the spread of aquatic NIS.
- Habitattitude
is an educational effort targeting those in the pet, aquarium
and watergarden industries and citizens with pets and watergardens.
