Chairman Wise introduced Ms. Nancy Balcom of the Connecticut Sea Grant Extension Program, who will brief the Council on the draft Long Island Sound Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan.  Mr. Wise observed that the impact of invasive species is second only to outright habitat destruction among threats to global biodiversity.  He added that Long Island Sound has its share of invasive species and he thought the Council and audience members would find Ms. Balcom’s presentation very informative.

Ms. Balcom gave a power point presentation on a proposed framework for dealing with marine aquatic species in Long Island Sound in the form of a proposed draft management plan.  The plan's development team is very interested in receiving public input and comment on the draft.  Public input is required under guidelines prepared by the federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.  The plan development team has been working for about a year so far, trying to define and come up with goals and objectives.  To follow up, they also will also need to come up with strategies, actions and to find ways to pay for implementing suggested strategies.   Ms. Balcom noted that preventing the introduction of invasive species into Long Island Sound is the most desirable objective.  However, containing the spread and ecological impact of such organisms, once detected, is probably the more realistic approach.  Presently, they have ranked the invasive species in the Sound in terms of their likely environmental impact and are concentrating on those that pose the greatest environmental threat.  Funding is not sufficient to thoroughly assess all introduced new species and the extent of the threat they may pose.  The following is a list of the eight key management objectives developed by the committee:    

• coordination
• funding
• prevent future anthropogenic introductions into Long Island Sound
• detect and monitor
• initiate risk management
• education
• research
• legislation, regulation, policy

Once an invasive species problem has been located, they try to find out if anyone is already doing something about it.  If no action is currently taking place, regional, state and local authorities try to determine the best course of action.

Public awareness falls under the category of education. When there is some problem, they feel it’s very important to get the word out to the public and keep them well informed.  This could be strictly for their information but it might be necessary for public safety, e.g., if someone encounters the venomous Portugese Man-of-War jellyfish, which has been found in the Sound.

Mr. Carl Lobue of the Nature Conservancy asked why there were no specific regulatory and/or policy changes affecting aquatic invasive species developed yet by the plan development team.  Ms. Balcom responded that the idea is to set up the framework for dealing with aquatic invasives in the Sound, including the establishment of a coordinating committee that would include state agency people.  That committee would assess shortcomings in legal/regulatory framework and point these out to the appropriate authorities.

Pat Augustine asked whether there was product on the market that is able to attack and kill the common reed, Phragmites.  Ms. Balcom responded that, to her knowledge, there was not.

An audience member asked if there was a timetable with respect to establishing the suggested LIS AIS coordinating committee and the members of that committee will be selected; which state agencies will be represented and how will the the public and/or various stakeholder groups be involved?  Ms. Balcom replied that the committee has been put together.  It is large (35 persons) and very broadly representative of agencies and stakeholders.

Councilor Rivara encouraged Ms. Balcom to assure that the coordinating committee works together with various groups, such as the Council, to keep communication lines open on how various AIS issues affecting Long Island Sound are handled, such as the effort to eradicate or constrain further spread of Phragmites.   Councilor John Davi agreed that industry input is essential especially because when a problem arises such as this one, it’s the fishermen who you will need to remove this from the water.  They need to be in on the process from the beginning.  Mr. Davi expressed concern about some items contained in the draft management plan.  Ms. Balcom welcomed hearing any concerns that he may have or that anyone else may for that matter.

To keep on schedule with the development of this management plan, Ms. Balcom will need comments back to her by the end of this month, if possible.  Chairman Wise thanked Ms. Balcom for her presentation.  NOTE:  Readers of this bulletin may review the draft LIS AIS Management Plan on the following web page: http://www.seagrant.uconn.edu/LISINV.HTM.

 

Page last modified Monday, January 7, 2008 by George E. Carroll