Lionfish Threat Grows

   It might be cold and snowy across much of the country, but, in our warm coastal waters the lionfish invasion continues. These beautiful and exotic marine fish threaten to seriously disrupt the waters they are invading and focusing on harvest continues to be the primary management strategy. While it is unlikely that harvest can control lionfish in large areas, it could prove to be quite effective in some locations.

  The New York Times has done an excellent video that provides a great overview of the problem. If you are not familiar with the lionfish invasion this 5 minute video will teach you a lot.   Watch here

   Every month it seems that there are good stories about lionfish harvesting. This issue we are highlighting the story of Vic Depuis. A South Carolina resident who is on a mission to eliminate as many lionfish as possible. He has developed new collecting equipment, organized tournaments and energized divers all to help slow the spread.    Read more

Where Will Our Next Invaders Come From?

   New research shows that the greatest threat of invasive species introduction comes from within the United States and not from outside the country. "Our findings have significant implications for biosecurity policy and the need to consider security measures beyond established national borders," said Matthew Thomas, professor of entomology, Penn State. 

   The researchers found that, while all the top 100 known exotic insect pests for the entire U.S. already exist in the country, the top lists for each of the states included many species that are yet to establish in those states. In all cases except one, the absent pests do occur somewhere else in the U.S. and more often than not, they are found in a neighboring state. In fact, 12 states had every pest species that they were missing located just across their borders in a neighboring state.Read More

San Francisco Bay Fights Ballast Water Introductions

   The maritime shipping industry brings 8.4 million metric tons of cargo into California each year, along with it come some unwelcome visitors: exotic species of marine life that hide out in the ballast water that the ships pick up at sea.

  When ships from around the world reach California, they discharge all this water from their cargo holds - and everything else that happens to be in it.

  Local scientists say more foreign species have invaded the Bay-Delta estuary than anywhere else in the world - and some of them are seriously destructive. State officials are preparing for a showdown with ship owners, who are responsible for removing these invasive species from ballast water.Read More

Invisible Invaders

   Invasive plants and animals are the subject of much research and managers are constantly working to develop new programs designed to manage, control or prevent the spread of these invasives. However, an entire class of invaders often goes unnoticed. Microorganisms have the capacity to devastate our     fish and wildlife resources and a new scholarly paper helps to make us all more aware of the threat.

   The authors of "Invisible invaders: non-pathogenic invasive microbes in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems" provide an excellent overview of invasive microbes and offer a compelling argument that significant new research is needed. Read More

Fun Videos Featuring Invasives

    Deathtolionfish.org provides us with a unique look at a restaurant  with lionfish on the menu.  Watch Here

   Stephen Colbert has fun with the renaming of Asian carp as "Kentucky Tuna". His carp commentary begins about 2:30 into this video.  Watch Here

   See the face off of Zebra Mussel Girl vs. Broccoli Man in this fun animation.  Watch Here

State by State

  Montana - Native bull trout in Glacier National Park are being seriously threatened by invasive lake trout. Bull trout are now "functionally extinct" in two thirds of the Park's lakes.  Read More

    Also from Montana, the troublesome announcement that samples from Flathead Lake contained suspicious material, possibly mussels. Read More

  Illinois - The Asian carp invading North America are a popular food fish in China and an Illinois company will soon be exporting 40,000 pound containers of frozen carp to China. Read More 

  Nebraska - Zorinsky Lake might be drained of most of its water this winter as officials scramble to combat the dreaded zebra mussel.   Read More

  Maine - Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists recently did a week long reclamation project of Big Reed Pond in remote northern Piscataquis County.  Read More

  Florida - Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Invasive Plant Management Section’s new research newsletter.  Read More

  Wyoming - Two fishing derbies planned for late January and early February aim to help rid the Flaming Gorge Reservoir of unwelcome burbot.  Read More

  Minnesota - A very innovative contest to develop "Burma-shave" type slogans about invasive species protection has announced the winners.  Read More

  Michigan - A state hatchery is once again raising walleye after being closed for several years to fight an invasive virus.   Read More

Carp Art 

   Lisa Murch is an artist living and working in Philadelphia. She draws on her studies of entomology, biology and zoology in her sculptures and installations. Hearing the news stories about Asian carp she was inspired to create a new sculpture she titled "Invasion". She describes the piece as " This installation captures a school of Asian carp working their way up river."Read More

The Problem With Pike 

   Northern pike are great sport fish and in their native waters they offer great fishing opportunities. Unfortunately, a few misguided individuals believe that pike belong in all waters and intentionally release them.These illegal plants often result in new populations becoming established that cause many kinds of problems. Help to spread the word that there is never a reason for anyone to ever move a live fish from one water to another.

   The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever put pike in Eagle Nest Lake. A young angler caught a juvenile pike and reported it to officials who confirmed the catch.    Read More

   In British Columbia, the Columbia River is being invaded by norther pike that are coming from the USA. The fish are moving upstream and anglers and fisheries officials are concerned about the impact they might have.   Read More

A Christmas Poem

 Les Mehrhoff, Chief Botanical Officer of Invasive Plant Control Inc. shared his holiday greetings with a reworking of the classic poem The Night Before Christmas. Lee says of his version, "...in the spirit of the holiday season that I share with you a little piece, versions of which I have read to students for years, now with a new twist, the perspective of an invasive species biologist."
Read More

  It is hard to believe that the holidays are already at hand. Here in Montana the days are short but it won't long until we notice that we getting more daylight. The lengthening days will serve as a strong reminder that spring and another fishing season will soon be at hand. 

  While it might seem like this is a slow time of year for invasive species efforts, managers are busy working on their plans for protecting our waters in the next year. Now is the time to watch for invitations to comment on regulation and policy changes. Make sure to push for invasive species programs when you have the chance.

  To brighten up your holiday this issue includes a trio of fun videos, a note about a carp artist and a holiday poem. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season!

  Drop us an email at newsletter@stopans.org and let us know what you would like to see in future issues of the News.

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