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Aquatic Invasive Species in Massachusetts
What They Are, How They Get Here, and What We Are Doing to Keep Them Out.
Jay Baker
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
9/29/2005 presented by Jay Baker at a MIS monitoring training session.Massachusetts has been working to develop a Aquatic Invasive Species Management PlanOne of the goals of the Management Plan is to start monitoring networks.Thought it might be useful to share with you the approach we’ve taken in developing this comprehensive plan, highlight a few key problems we faced along the way, and give you some sense of the time frame we’ve been working onShould note: While the plan covers marine and freshwater invaders, the focus here is primarily on the marine components
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Codium fragile ssp. Tomentosoides or green fleece, dead man’s fingersAn introduced species from the Pacific Ocean around Japan is causing some major problems in Massachusetts.
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Particularly in West Harwich on Cape Cod.Tons of codium is washing up on the beaches, Sitting there, rotting and wrecking the beach experience.Codium washes up making the beach unusable.The Town of West Harwich came to CZM (Coastal Zone Management) asking for suggestions to solve this problem.
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The best idea so far has been to turn the codium into a Dune Restoration Project. Bulldozers mix the sand, slipper shells with the codium and pile it into dunes.The codium needs to attach to something hard. Off the West Harwich shore, the codium often attaches to common slipper shells (Crepidula fornicata ) which is found to be prolific in eutrophic waters. As the codium grows, the wave action will dislodge the shell and algae, eventually washing ashore during high tides and storms.
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This dune is about 8 feet high and 150 yards long.
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Problem is there is just not enough sand.Where is all this codium coming from?
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The green areas on this map of the southeastern section of Cape Cod show the what was thought to be eelgrass distribution, based on aerial photographs of the region.
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However, when the areas were examined more closely by running transects with underwater cameras, areas of codium were found interspersed throughout the eelgrass beds. It is not known if the eelgrass is dying off from pollution, leaving room for the codium to become established, or if the codium is out-competing the eelgrass.
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You might be thinking: “Why doesn’t someone use it for fertilizer?”Here is the lab report that shows that codium is not suitable for composting.First of all, the conductivity is 89, which means the salt content is very high. Secondly, two parts bulk material (sawdust, leaves, wood chips) would be needed for every one part of codium. It is just not feasible to use as compost.
No good management option, so for now it remains on the beach.
Question may be asked why is it so bad here and not other places. Need to look at the nitrogen situation on the Cape. Beach homes with septic systems may be providing the nitrogen to foster algal blooms.
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Marine Invasive Species
What Are They?
“Nonindigenous or cryptogenic species that have that threaten the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability and/or use of infested waters.”
-Massachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan
Nonindigenous- a species transported beyond its native rangeCryptogenic- a species of unknown origin
Synonyms- exotic, alien, nuisance
Definitions: preferred term now is “nonindigenous” since it is not clear that every introduced non-native species will become invasive.
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Marine Invasive Species
Why are they so difficult to manage?
Biological pollutants with self sustaining populations
Often have few or no natural predators or pathogens
Native species may be unable to compete with them
Most successful invaders are pioneer or colonizing species adapted to variable and harsh environmental conditions.
Difficult to manage these biological invaders because once established they are self-sustaining.Massachusetts has felt the impacts from invasive species, including the green crab that has been here for the last 180 years or so.
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The Massachusetts Experience
• Pimentel (1999) estimates a loss of $44 million per year due to green crab introduction
• Carlton (2003) lists 86 known nonindigenous marine species in the Northeast and 67 Cryptogenic species
• Pathogens have decimated shellfish stocks form the Chesapeake Bay to Atlantic Canada
• Feared species are knocking on our door
November 2000 zebra mussel distribution in the Northeastern US (USGS, 2001)
In a widely cited paper, Pimentel of Cornell university estimates a loss of 44 million dollars per year due to the collapse of the soft shell clam industry, for which the green crab is blamedOn the freshwater side, Massachusetts state agencies spend in excess of 500,000 dollars a year on the management of aquatic weeds. As you might guess, we are hardly making a dent
Beyond established species, there is concern over species encroaching on our waters which have had devastating impacts in other states (Zebra Mussel). Zebra mussel is the poster child for introduced species that have become invasive. Note outline of waterways: Lake Champlain, Hudson River. The one spot were they have been found in Connecticut is at Twin Lakes, which is a shared watershed with Connecticut and Massachusetts. Not found in MA YET!
Otherwise, we don’t know enough about the distribution of invaders or their potential impacts
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The Chinese mitten crab is in San Francisco.Probably from an intentional release in 1992, has been intercepted at airports, illegally imported alive from Asia because it is considered a food delicacy.2000-01 $1million in federal funds spent on control methods.See SSCW Guide to Marine Invaders in the Gulf of Maine for more info.
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Species of Concern
Established Marine Species• Green crab (Carcinus maenus)• Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsis
sanguineus)• Lace bryozoan (Membranipora
mambranacea)• Ship worms (Toredo bartschi,
Toredo navalis, Limnoria sp.)• Ascidians• Various shellfish pathogens
(MSX, Dermo, SSO, QPX)• Codium (Codium fragile)
Here are a few of the bad critters, both present in Massachusetts, and threatening.Green crab came to our coast in 1817 in ship dry ballast (stones)Asian shore crab found in New Jersey in 1988; made its way to Massachusetts around 1998-2000.Lacy crust bryozoan encrust seaweed fronds, particularly kelp, causing it to break, which in turn may lead to codium fragile ssp tomentosoides coming to establish the barrens.Ascidians common name is sea squirts; generally known as fouling organisms. Shellfish pathogensSee SSCW Guide to Marine Invaders in the Gulf of Maine for more info.
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Species of Concern
Threatening Marine Species• Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
• Rapa or veined whelk (Rapana venosa)
• Nori (Porphyra yezoensis)
• Caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia)
Our aquaculture business is very concerned over shellfish pathogens that may be carried by introduced oysters.Rapa whelk has invaded the Chesapeake Bay region and is a major predator of shellfish. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science pays a bounty for live and dead Rapa venosa to determine the distribution rates and directions.Nori is a cultured seaweed used in sushi and as fish food. Maine is actively culturing to reproduce and grow in colder water.Caulerpa or the “killer algae” has blanketed the Mediterranean sea floor and been found at the end of a stormdrain pipe in California lagoons. The one year cost of eradication effort in one southern California lagoon was more than $1.1 million. Over and over again it is proven that once non-native species become established it is a Herculean task to remove or eradicate.
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How Do They Get Here?
Marine Invasive Species Transport Vectors
The vectors that we’ve chosen to focus on so far are the usual suspects.It is not know what is sold in live bait machines. Nuclear worms (long and brightly colored) native to SE Asia has been sold by bait dealers. Better to have cut bait in the machines.A common aquarium plant, Eurasian watermilfoil, have rendered many Massachusetts lakes and ponds unusable for fishing, boating, and swimming. One can still go to Petco and buy this without any warning about its invasive properties.
Another common transport vector is ballast water and aquaculture.
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Pathways of Introduction
Top Priority Transport Vector Worldwide
Ballast Water
Currently, 45,000 commercial cargo carrying vessels and hundreds of thousands of recreational vessels cross the oceans, carrying thousands of hitchhiking species.At least 7,000 different species are likely to be transported in ballast water each day. Ballast water flows into US harbors at a rate of 2 million gallons per hour.(Carlton, 1999 and Carlton et al. 1995 from the PEW Oceans Commission Report: Introduced Species in U.S. Coastal Waters.)What is needed: compulsory ballast water exchange off shore and research into ballast water treatment methods.National Invasive Species Act is federal legislation that gives authority to the U.S. Coast Guard. Legislation is up for reauthorization.It requires ballast water exchange outside of U.S. waters.U.S. Coast Guard needs to be able to increase its enforcement and supervision capabilities.
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Findings
Non ballast pathways are important vectors
Pet industry imports the greatest variety of species, the seafood industry the greatest volume
Industries are discharging wastewater containing live organisms
Seafood, bait, and pet companies were not familiar with the AIS threat
Pathways of Introduction
The European green crab in 1990 made its way to the Pacific coast in California and Oregon via seaweed with bait worms.Seafood packaging using plant materials carries who knows what to a new location.
People are unaware of the multitude of species moving in these transport vectors.
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Other Pathways• Pet Trade• Water Gardens
Pathways of Introduction
Hydrilla that is choking Long Pond on Cape Cod probably came from someone’s water garden.
People need to be trained to ask about the nature of the plant they are buying. Does it have invasive characteristics:1. Reproduce easily?2. Tolerate varying temperatures, moisture, salinity, etc.?3. Is it opportunistic, adaptable?
And how to discard unwanted seaweeds and animals. Some quick tips:Place aquatic seaweeds in sealed plastic bags and put in the trash.Place seaweeds and/or animals in the freezer for 24 hours before disposal.
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Other PathwaysSeafood Industry
Pathways of Introduction
Industries need to be made aware of how they are contributing to the problem.Reasonable, inexpensive methods to reduce the transport of non-natives must be found.
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Other PathwaysRecreational Boating and Fishing
Pathways of Introduction
Maine is the first New England state legislature to establish tough regulations for boaters and a campaign to educate the public.Boaters must purchase a sticker ($15 resident/$30 nonresident) that is placed on the boat saying “Don’t spread invasives”.The money goes to supporting the state invasive species program.State enforcement can also write tickets and fines up to $200 to boaters caught transporting invasives or not having clean hulls.
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Other Pathways• Aquaculture• Marine Research and Supply
Pathways of Introduction
C O L L E C T IO N S
A S 1 B IO -D IS P LA Y C O LLE C TIO N $125.00 A S 2 B IO -IN S TR U C TIO N C O LLE C TIO N $125.00
L A 1
LIV E M A R IN E A LG A E A S S O R TM E N T (6-8 species) $56.00
P R 8 A
S P O N G E C O LLE C TIO N (5 species) $50.00
C N 2 8 A
C N ID A R IA N C O LLE C TIO N (6-8 species) $75.00
A R 14 2 A
A R TH R O P O D C O LLE C TIO N (9-12 species) $95.00
U R 3 5 5 A
TU N IC A TE C O LLE C TIO N (5 species) $50.00
M L 2 18 A
M O LLU S C C O LLE C TIO N (11-13 species) $90.00
E N 3 0 8 A
E C H IN O D E R M C O LLE C TIO N (9-11 species) $90.00
The internet still is a means of non-native species distribution.Most anything can be found. Need to keep educating everyone.
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Other PathwaysInternet Sales
Pathways of Introduction
Caulerpa Feathery Variety (Caulerpa sp)
$14.00
SAI059
Federal law makes buying or owning Caulerpa taxifolia illegal, but one can still buy Caulerpa species, whatever that is.
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Other PathwaysBait Industry
Pathways of Introduction
Fishermen may hang bait bag over the side or release what they do not use, never realizing that they might be introducing another non-native species with invasive possibilities.
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What Are We Doing About Marine Invasive Species?
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Massachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Management PlanMassachusetts Aquatic Invasive Species Working Group
Prepared by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Massachusetts completed a Aquatic Invasive Species Management PlanThe working group consists of state agencies, academics and the Nature Conservancy.The regional network meets twice a year.
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Management Objectives and Actions
Categories of Strategic Actions• Coordination• Prevention• Monitoring• Early Detection• Control• Education• Research• Legislation
94 Tasks identified so far
Decided to focus on prevention and education, with the hopes of early detection of new nonindigenous species so that eradication is possible.Good start on identifying priorities-doing as much as we can at this pointStrategies have been developed, but the funding is lacking for implementation.Here are some the categories we need to address. :1) Coordination2) Prevention3) early detection4) control (existing populations)5) education
We’ve begun to address these issues, and I don’t have time to outline them all, but some highlights include
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Coordinating Management Activities
Dedicate a minimum of two full time employees to AIS management (one freshwater and one coastal)
Establish a Northeast Regional Panel of the Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
Some of the steps that have been taken.
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Recreational Boating and Fishing
Boater education
Distribute AIS educational materials with boater registration packets
HELP PROTECT OUR LAKES AND PONDS • Remove ALL plants and animals from boat,
trailer, anchors, fishing gear and dive gear. • Flush engines and dispose of bait, bilge water
and bait bucket water on land away from shore. • Never release any plant or animal into a body of
water, unless it came out of that body of water. • Dispose of all foreign matter far from water!
For information or to report an infestation, please contact: Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Lakes and Ponds Program 1-617-626-1382 or 1-617-626-1411
or visit www.mass.gov/lakesandponds EOEA Secretary Ellen Roy Herzfelder
DCR Commissioner Katherine F. Abbott
Eurasian Milfoil Fanwort Zebra Mussel Variable Milfoil
NUSIANCE AQUATIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS
STOP The Spread of…
Eurasian Milfoil
Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Marine Invaders
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Pet TradeConduct education and planning workshops for major industries
Develop outreach materials
Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Marine Invaders
Have conducted workshops for Pet Store owners, mainly the local, small mom and pop stores.Low attendance, probably difficult to get the time away from the store.
The big stores and pet organizations (Petco and Walmarts) are becoming active promoters of responsible distribution. They are adding signage and advertising about the spread of invasive species. There should be some matching federal funds to help this along.
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Conservation Commissions
Provide information to Con Coms on how invasive species might be spread through development activities
Develop model Orders of Condition for minimizing the introduction and spread of invaders
Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Marine Invaders
Massachusetts MACC website will be setting up an invasive clearinghouse.Discusses the importance of seed dispersal at any disturbance site.Clean construction vehicles is important prevention step. Fill needs to be inspected as well as the vehicles working in the area or moving fill.
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Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Marine Invaders
General Public
Educate the public about what they can do to prevent introductions
Many organizations are working to produce educational material like CZM’sbooklet on Biological Invaders
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Monitoring for Marine Invaders
Rapid Assessment Survey of floating docks along the Gulf of Maine
Train citizens groups to monitor for AIS
Assess risks of the introduction of priority species
Copy of the 2003 RAS: http:// web.mit.edu/seagrant/pubs/
Rapid assessment surveys of floating docks have been conducted throughout New EnglandSee the publication of the 2003 RAS results http://web.mit.edu/seagrant/pubs/
Working to train citizens to monitor their locals for non-native species.
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Monitoring: Massachusetts Rapid Assessment Surveys
• Collaborative effort: MIT Sea Grant, CZM, Mass Bays, others
• Documented presence of species in ports and harbors of Massachusetts (summer 2000)
• Identified 24 introduced and 49 cryptogenic species along the Massachusetts coast (three previously undocumented)
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W I NC H ESTE R
EVE RE TT
CH EL SE A
SOME RVI LL ECAMBRIDGE
BROOK
LINE
W AT E RT OW N
DOVER
FOXB OROUGH
SHARON
NORWO OD
WESTWOOD
NEEDHAM
WELLE SLEY
MANS FI ELD
NORTON
MID DLEBOROU GH
ACUSHNET
WA REH AM
SOMER
SET
SAND WIC H
FAL MOUTH
BREWSTER
CHA THAM
EASTHAM
WELLFLEET
TRURO
PROVINCET OWN
GOSNOLD
KING STON
DUXBURY
PEMBRO KE
WHI TM AN
STOUGHTO N AV ON
HOLB ROOK
RANDOLPH
BRAINTREE
WEYMOUTH
HINGHAM COHASSET
SCIT UA TE
AB INGTON
CANTON
MILT ONQUINCY
HULL
BEDF ORD
LEX INGTON
WALTHA M
BURLINGTO N
READING
NA HANT
SA UG US
PEABODYLYNNFIE LD
WAKEFIELD
LAWRENCE
TEWKS BUR Y
WILMINGTON
NORT H READING
WENHAM
TOPSFIELD
MIDDLETON
MANCHE STE R
DA NVERS
SA LEM
MARBLEHE AD
SWAMP SCOTT
WINTHROP
MELROSE
WOBURN
RE VERE
MALDE NMEDF ORD
BEDF ORD
TISBURY
ROCK PO RT
BILLE RICA
WESTON
ANDOVE R
NORT H
BOX FOR D
IPS WIC H
HAMILTONAND OV ER
ROWLEY
BEVER LY
S TO NE HA M
LY NN
ESSEX GLOUC ESTER
BOS TON
NEWTON
ARL I N G TO N
BEL M O NT
DEDHAM
WALPOLE
NORWE LL
ROCKLAND
EASTON
HALIFAX
BRIDGEWATER
HANSON
HANOVERMARSHFIE LD
TAU NTON RAYN HAM
DIGHTON
EK ONK
REH OB OTH
FAL L R IVE R
WE STP ORT
DAR TM OU TH
FAI RHAVEN
MAT TA POISETT
BERKLEYLAKEVILLE
FR EETOWNSWANSEA
PLYMOU TH
CAR VER
NE WBOU RN E
PLYMP TON
ROCH ESTER
MARION
BARN STABLEYA RM OUTH
DE NNIS
MASHPEE
HAR WIC H
ORLE ANS
OAK BLUFFS
BROCKT ON
BRIDGEWATER
EAST
BRIDGEWATER
WE ST
NORT H
ATTLEBORO
Eel Pond
Rowes Wharf
Tucks Point
Tripp Marina
Bourne MarinaSandwich Marina
Cape Ann Marina
Bay Point Marina
Hawthorne Marina
Barnstable Marina
Plymouth Town Dock
MWRA - Deer Island
Duxbury Public Pier
Fall River Battleship Cove
New Bedford Development Commission
State Fish Pier
Constitution Marina
Black Falcon Terminal
Woods Hole Coast Guard Station
N
EW
S
5000 0 5000 10000 Meters
Rapid Assessment Survey Sampling Locations (Pederson, 2002)
The rapid bioinvasive assessment was spearheaded by MIT Sea Grant, and supported by MCZM, MassBays, and MassAudubon.
Discovered that about 15 % of the species were nonindigenous or of unknown origin.
This interagency effort started in northeastern Massachusetts and continued through Rhode Island to document the presence of exotic species on floating docks in ports and harbors of these two states
This event received a lot of attention, and gave momentum to the generation of a statewide Aquatic Invasive Species management Plan along with $15,000 grant from EPA
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Another goal in the establishment of a monitoring network is to have a central database.We need to know what is here.http://www.marineid.orgTherefore, we have created MarineID, which will allow monitoring groups to record their species observations.This will help us learn about new species before they are wide spread and learn about the distribution of introduced species.
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We have distribution maps and are developing species profiles on the MarineID
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The marineID data entry template (MS Access) and a help tutorial can be downloaded by clicking on the links below. Data can be submitted to marineID by emailing completed forms to [email protected] data will go through a series of quality assurance checks prior to posting to the web site.
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Responding to Marine Invaders
Early Detection/Rapid Response
http://www.northeastans.org/resources.htmFrom NEANSNortheast Aquatic Nuisance Panelhas been working on marine habitat restoration.
This slide is about the EDRR protocol being developed by the NEANS Panel.
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What You Can Do
Get Involved
Lakes and Ponds Program Weed watchers
Salem Sound Coast Watch Introduced Species Monitoring Program
Learn the Species of the New England Coast
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What You Can DoTake Your Own Precautionary Measures
Boaters: Thoroughly clean boats and boat trailers prior to leaving a waterway
Never release live organisms into a waterway– unused bait or bait packing materials– unwanted aquarium pets or contents– unconsumed shellfish or shellfish waste
Landscape your home with native plants
Spread the word!
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What You Can DoSupport Programs that are Designed to Combat Invasive Species
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Web Resources
• www.state.ma.us/czm/• www.NortheastANS.org• www.MarineID.org• www.invasivespecies.gov
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Questions?
The “Killer Algae” Caulerpa taxifolia
