Aquatic Invasive Species (coastal)

Quagga and Zebra Mussels (freshwater)

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels have been found in California, according to the California Department of Fish and Game. They pose risks to native, freshwater life and to our water transport system. For links to resources on preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels and for other educational materials visit our page Quagga/Zebra Mussel Invasion.

MANAGING HULL TRANSPORT OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (for coastal boats)

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) attach to all types and sizes of vessels. Measures to prevent and control the hull transport of AIS are necessary as they can have significant ecological and socio-economic impacts.

The Coastal Resources Program of UC Cooperative Extension has created several, research-based publications on preventing transport of aquatic invasive species by boats that are kept in saltwater:

FACT SHEETS

• NEW! Hull Fouling Copper Tolerance Fact Sheet 2011: Fact sheet summarizing recent scientific studies on the ability of hull fouling to tolerate copper antifouling paints on boat hulls and copper pollution in harbor waters. Includes a table of both native and non-native species that the research suggests can tolerate copper.

• NEW! Balancing Management of Marina Water Quality and Invasive Hull-Fouling Species: Pertinent Scientific Findings (2011) Fact sheet summarizing research on: 1) alternative hull coatings' service life, industry capacity to apply and maintain them, and which boats are better candidates to use them; and 2) copper tolerance of hull-fouling species. 2 pp.

• NEW! To Clean or Not to Clean: Managing Fouling on Boat Hulls (2011) Fact sheet summarizing experiment to determine effects of in-water hull cleaning with California BMPs on next generation of invasive species and other fouling growth at recreational boat docks in San Diego Bay and Santa Barbara Harbor. 2 pp.

• NEW! Supply-Side Capacity to Manage Invasive Fouling Species and Water Quality
  on the Coasts and Delta of California and Baja California (2011) Fact sheet summarizing conclusions from a survey of nearly 200 boating industries on the coasts of California and Baja California and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Industry groups included marinas, harbors, yacht clubs, boat repair yards, and hull cleaning, slip liner and boat lift companies.

• NEW! Supplies, Services and Costs to Control Invasive and Other Fouling Species
  for Boats on California’s Coast, its Delta and Baja California (2011) Fact sheet summarizing average costs from a survey of nearly 200 boating industries on the coasts of California and Baja California and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Industry groups included marinas, harbors, yacht clubs, boat repair yards, and hull cleaning, slip liner and boat lift companies.

TECHNICAL REPORT (USER FRIENDLY) on Balancing Management of Aquatic Invasive Species and Water Quality

• Rock the Boat! Balancing Invasive Species, Antifouling and Water Quality for Boats Kept in Saltwater (2007)

This 25-page technical report translates technical information for the general public at a senior high school level. It explains how efforts to control invasive species and reduce antifouling paint pollution might affect each other, ideas for how to balance policies on both issues, has pictures of invasive species that are common in coastal harbors of California and Baja California, tips for avoiding carrying invasive species on recreational boats, a cost analysis for cleaning boat hulls in various situations, and lots of photos and references to scientific and policy documents. The report includes summarized findings and recommendations from the workshop, "white paper" and policy analysis that are described below.

FACT SHEET

• Copper-Tolerant Hull-Borne Invasive Species: Further Analysis Fact Sheet (2008) Recent research on copper tolerant invasive species and their effects on native ecosystems.

BILINGUAL POSTER and FACT SHEET on aquatic invasive species that have both English and Spanish text. They are for owners of boats kept in saltwater in California and Baja California and for staff of marinas, harbors and yacht clubs. They explain problems caused by hull-borne invasive species and how to reduce the risk of transporting them on recreational boat hulls. Colorful photos of invasive species will help boaters identify them and report them to the appropriate agencies. The poster is 24" wide by 36" high. The fact sheet has the same text and graphics but folds to 4 pages that are 8.5" wide by 11" high.

• Request the POSTER Stop Aquatic Invaders On Our Coast!
  

Poster is only available by mail. Click on the link to fill out a request form.

• Request the POSTER ¡Detenga El Transporte De Especies Invasoras Acuáticas En Nuestras Costas!

• Download the FACT SHEET Stop Aquatic Invaders On Our Coast!

• Download the FACT SHEET ¡Detenga El Transporte De Especies Invasoras Acuáticas En Nuestras Costas!

PEER-REVEWED "WHITE PAPER" on Aquatic Invasive Species and Water Quality

• Managing Hull-Borne Invasive Species and Coastal Water Quality for California and Baja California Boats Kept in Saltwater This peer-reviewed paper is about 150 pages and includes a review of scientific and other literature  on managing hull transport of AIS and on water quality issues related to antifouling paints for recreational vessels. It also includes recommendations of the 2005 California workshop Managing Hull Transport of Aquatic Invasive Species. Although the focus is California, the paper includes information from other parts of the United States and other countries. Most information is on saltwater species but freshwater zebra mussels are also discussed.

POLICY ANALYSIS on Balancing Management of Aquatic Invasive Species and Water Quality (for California coastal boats)

• Environmental Policy Conflicts on the Horizon: Vessel Antifouling Paints, Coastal Water Quality and Invasive Species
  

Considerations for developing policies to balance the management of aquatic invasive species and water quality are analyzed with respect to effects on the environment, the boating industry and boat owners.

WORKSHOP on Aquatic Invasive Species Carried on Hulls of Ships and Boats in Saltwater - held in California in 2005

The University of California Sea Grant Extension Program collaborated with the California State Lands Commission to lay a foundation for solutions by convening a workshop:

• Managing Hull Transport of Aquatic Invasive Species

to educate participants, learn from them and ask for recommendations. This coordinated approach was chosen because hull transport of Aquatic Invasive Species is a complicated issue affecting commercial and recreational vessels.

The Workshop took place on May 11th, 2005 in San Francisco. To ensure that the recommendations reflect the best available information and consider the concerns of affected parties, 65 representatives from the shipping, boating and coating industries; vessel owners; port, harbor, and marina managers; state and federal agencies; research community and environmental organizations participated in the Workshop.

Workshop Goals:

• Educate stakeholders and facilitate the exchange of perspectives on managing hull-borne invasive species, fouling growth and coastal water quality from the commercial shipping and recreational boating perspectives.

• Develop recommendations on managing the risks associated with the hull transport of invasive species as well as feasible, effective strategies for preventing associated introductions.

• Determine recommendations for action such as research, education, outreach, management measures and policies needed to prevent and control AIS introductions and establishment.  For online access to the Workshop Proceedings, or to request a copy on CD-ROM, please complete this quick survey: Workshop Proceedings Survey

Additional Resources:

• Invasive Plants - San Diego Carl Bell, Regional Advisor
• Nonindigenous Species Research and Outreach ?(National Sea Grant College Program) A national information center that contains research publications and education materials on zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species.
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• California Environmental Protection Agency ?Article on the erradication of the marine (saltwater) algae, "Caulerpa Taxifolia"
• RIDNIS?Reducing the Introduction and Damage of Aquatic Nonindigenous Species through Outreach and Education
• West Coast Ballast Outreach Project
• California Deparment of Boating and Waterways | Publication Order Form
• 100th Meridian Initiative | Outreach Program
• Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
• California Deparment of Fish and Game Invasive Species | Resources
• Reporting Invasive Species in California
• USDA National Invasive Species Information Center
• Portland State University Aquatic Invasive Species Education and Outreach Materials
• The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission