Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species | The Nature Conservancy

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Aquatic Invasive Species of the Great Lakes

Working to Prevent the Spread of Invasives in the Great Lakes

Asian carp, a detriment to native freshwater fisheries, are heading toward the Great Lakes.

The highly invasive asian carp (a generic term for several type of carp imported from asia) lays in the bottom of a boat on which he landed after leaping from the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois. These fish are thought to be highly detrimental to the environment in the USA where they are established. Because of these concerns, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service convened stakeholders to develop a national plan for the management and control of invasive Asian carps. The Nature Conservancy works to protect the Mississippi River and its watershed through the Great Rivers Partnership which is a collaboration between a wide array of partners dedicated to the conservation of the world's great river systems for the benefit of the people and the species that depend upon them for life. © Mark Godfrey/The Nature Conservancy

Story Highlights

A new aquatic invasive species is introduced into the Great Lakes once every eight months.
Aquatic invasives cost the U.S. an estimated $5 billion annually to control, manage and recoup the damages to freshwater communities.
The Great Lakes Project is working to prevent the arrival and spread of invasive species, keep the newly arrived from establishing populations and influence public policy.

Scientists estimate the Great Lakes have been invaded by more than 180 species, with new species arriving at a rate of one every eight months.

Invasive species have an impact on every system here and cost more than $200 million annually in lost revenue and prevention strategies.

Aquatic invasive species may be the most significant threat to the health of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Project will collaborate with universities, funders and state and federal agencies to:

Prevent the arrival and spread of new aquatic invasive species: Our focus is on the main pathways, including maritime shipping, trade in live species, artificial connections (such as canals) and recreational boats.
Detect and eradicate newly arrived aquatic invasive species before they get a foothold in the Great Lakes: This requires investment in surveillance activities that focus on pathways and on high-risk sites.
Give natives species a competitive advantage through pest management techniques such as establishing a control program to prevent them from eating the eggs of native fish in critical spawning areas.
Influence policy: by providing information about the highest-risk species to state and federal agencies; help decision-makers understand the economic and ecologic trade-offs to craft more effective policies.

While aquatic invasive species have irrevocably changed the Great Lakes, we are taking steps to stem new introductions, contain new arrivals from becoming established and minimize the impact of those aquatic invasive species that are here to stay. A stronger, more resilient Great Lakes ecosystem is one of the most powerful weapons we have against aquatic invasive species.

April 27, 2011