A Canadian Action Plan to Address the Threat of Aquatic Invasive Species
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Date
2004-09
Authors
Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers Aquatic Invasive Species Task Group
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Government of Canada
Abstract
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been entering Canadian waters for centuries but
never as rapidly as today. Every decade, some 15 alien species establish themselves in
our coastal or inland waters and, in the absence of their natural predators, the most
aggressive of them spread rapidly. They can radically alter habitat, rendering it
inhospitable for native species.
Invading species have been implicated in both the vast reductions in, or outright
extinction of, indigenous fish and the resulting devastation of local fisheries. Some
invasives, such as the zebra mussel, do millions of dollars in damage annually to human
infrastructure. In addition to damage to the environment, in total, invasive species cost
billions of dollars every year due to lost revenue and the implementation of control
measures. With more species poised to enter the country, these costs will only rise.
Canada has 20 per cent of the world's fresh water and one of the longest coastlines,
thereby placing it at high risk from AIS. As a result of insufficient awareness of the
nature and size of the threat, there have been limited levels of compliance with practices
and regulations designed to minimize the damage.
World leaders officially recognized the threat posed by invasive species in 1992, with the
adoption of the UN Convention on Biodiversity. Canada responded in 1995 with the
Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. In September 2001, federal, provincial and territorial
ministers of forests, fisheries and aquaculture, endangered species and wildlife agreed to
develop a Canadian plan to deal with the threat of invasive alien species. In 2002, they
approved a blueprint for the plan. Also in 2002, the Canadian Council of Fisheries and
Aquaculture Ministers created the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Group to develop an
action plan to address the threat of aquatic invasive species.
The most effective approach to dealing with the hundreds of species that are (or could
become) established in Canada involves managing the pathways through which invasive
species enter and spread through Canadian waters. For aquatic species, these pathways
are shipping, recreational and commercial boating, the use of live bait, the aquarium/
water garden trade, live food fish, unauthorized introductions and transfers, and canals
and water diversions. This plan does not address authorized introductions such as
aquaculture or fish stocking, as they are covered by the National Code on Introductions
and Transfers of Aquatic Organisms.
The shipping pathway is considered the largest single source of new aquatic invasive
species. Ballast water that is taken on in foreign ports, for ship stability and safety at sea,
is discharged in Canadian waters, along with undesirable "hitchhikers" – foreign species
ranging from bacteria to larger organisms. While other pathways can also be a source of
new species, they generally serve to spread species that have already established
themselves in Canada and other parts of North America.
Efforts to resolve AIS problems raise a wide variety of issues. Any given species may
affect the environment, trade, shipping, recreational use of waterways, fishing, resource
management, human health and more. Numerous jurisdictions, from the local to the
international level, play a role in prevention, monitoring and management activities, as do
industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Aboriginal peoples and other
stakeholders. The magnitude and nature of the problem, and the priorities for action, vary
from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
In many cases, appropriate legislation and regulations exist to combat invasive species
but they have not always been adequately used. Actions have been taken to respond to
specific threats but concerted and coordinated efforts are only in their early stages.
The ultimate goal of this plan is to minimize (and ideally eliminate) the introduction of
harmful AIS and remediate the impact of those already in Canada. The plan’s underlying
principles include incorporating environmental, economic, and social factors in decision
making; working cooperatively with all stakeholders; and using science-based techniques
to assess the risk of aquatic invasive species.
Prevention of harmful new invasions is the first priority, as it is the most cost-effective
way to deal with the problem. Once species are established, the task becomes far more
complex and costly. The tools used to manage AIS must be carefully analyzed in terms of
their effectiveness, how they affect the rest of the ecosystem, their cost, and so on.
While some of the tools used to prevent and control harmful introductions vary between
pathways, most of them apply across pathways, between jurisdictions, and to a range of
species and ecosystems. In this plan, management actions have been organized into four
broad categories: legislation, regulation and compliance; risk management; engaging
Canadians; and science.
Given the size of the problem and the limitations on human and financial resources,
priorities for implementation must be assessed carefully. Some results can be achieved
using existing resources but the urgency and magnitude of the threat suggests the need for
new investment. While the federal, provincial and territorial governments bear overall
responsibility for putting this plan into action, partnerships with industry, Aboriginal
peoples, NGOs and all other stakeholders are imperative for its success.
Description
Keywords
Aquatic Invasive Species, Canada, Action Plan