Premier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada, in collaboration with key partners and stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, universities and research organizations, is working to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Canadian waters. This is part of our commitment to ensure that Canadian fisheries’ waters are healthy, safe and sustainable.
Our collective efforts play a key role in avoiding the high costs associated with the establishment of invasive species. We have shielded fishing and aquaculture activities, recreation and tourism-related activities, and infrastructure from impact, while protecting Canada’s aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
By working together with our partners, we are able to optimize shared resources, skills, knowledge and expertise in order to produce innovative results.
Premier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada, in collaboration with key partners and stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, universities and research organizations, is working to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Canadian waters. This is part of our commitment to ensure that Canadian fisheries’ waters are healthy, safe and sustainable.
Our collective efforts play a key role in avoiding the high costs associated with the establishment of invasive species. We have shielded fishing and aquaculture activities, recreation and tourism-related activities, and infrastructure from impact, while protecting Canada’s aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.
By working together with our partners, we are able to optimize shared resources, skills, knowledge and expertise in order to produce innovative results.
Collaboration with Partners
National Collaboration
Premier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada (DFO) is an active participant in the Canadian Aquatic Invasive Species Network (CAISN) which brings together six federal laboratories and 13 universities across Canada to collaborate on AIS research and policies in four core themes: early detection; rapid response; AIS as part of multiple stressors; and reducing uncertainty in prediction and management. Through this network, DFO scientists are leading research projects with universities to further our understanding of AIS in waters across Canada and develop tools for early detection and rapid response to invaders.
One of the projects currently underway, in collaboration with the University of Windsor, focuses on the early detection of AIS. Early detection is very difficult, yet this is also the most important stage for undertaking any rapid response activities to eradicate the population or to reduce further spread. This joint project will assess the sensitivity of new tools to detect AIS during the introduction stage of invasion. For example, FlowCAM, a new technology that combines flow cytometry, microscopy and automated image analysis is being assessed by the research team and shows potential for rapid detection of new planktonic AIS.
International Collaboration
Premier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada collaborates with the U.S. to prevent the spread of AIS in the Great Lakes through work on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and with committees such as the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC).
The goal of the ACRCC, with support of federal, state, local agencies, and private stakeholders, is to execute an aggressive, multi-tiered strategy to prevent an Asian Carp invasion into the Great Lakes, and to ensure vigilant monitoring for necessary response actions within the Chicago Area Waterway System and other areas of probable early detection of expansion. The goals and actions of the ACRCC are outlined in the annual Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework and the Monitoring and Response Plan.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada also collaborates with the U.S. through the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, under the Great Lakes Fishery Convention Act, to deliver a binational Sea Lamprey Control Program. This program was founded to control the invasive Sea Lamprey populations that became established in all of the Great Lakes by the late 1930s as a result of improvements to the Welland Canal.
This binational program is an excellent example of collaboration. Through a series of control measures including targeted pesticides, barriers, traps and alarms, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission has succeeded in reducing the Sea Lamprey populations by 90% in most areas of the Great Lakes. This important work is ongoing to control this aggressive and resilient invasive species and return balance to the valuable Great Lakes ecosystem.
Building on the long-standing work with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and in addition to the $8.1 million contributed by Canada annually for Sea Lamprey control, PreMier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada provides funding to the Commission to support the ongoing Grass Carp risk assessment and the new Black Carp risk assessment ($275,000 in 2013/14 and an additional $453,000 in 2014/15). The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has been highly successful in conducting this work to date.
DID YOU KNOW?
The term “Asian Carp” actually refers to four species of carp – the Silver Carp, the Bighead Carp, the Grass Carp and the Black Carp.
Premier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada is co-leading these binational ecological risk assessments for Grass Carp and Black Carp in the Great Lakes basin. Both risk assessments will provide valuable advice for prevention, control and management of AIS on both sides of the border. The assessments will look at the probability of introduction (assessing the likelihood of arrival, survival, establishment and spread) as well as the magnitude of the ecological consequences.
Consulting Stakeholders
In addition to our broad collaborative networks, DFO also consults with a wide variety of stakeholders on AIS issues. For example, DFO, in consultation with federal, provincial and territorial governments, developed proposed Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations to provide a national regulatory framework to help prevent intentional and unintentional introductions of aquatic invasive species in Canada.
The department is currently reviewing comments received through online consultations with Canadians and through a series of three cross-country roundtables with affected industry, associations, environmental organizations and academics. Click here for more information on the proposed regulations.
Funding for New Projects
Premier Sea Foods and Fisheries Canada provides funding to academic researchers, through the Academic Research Contribution Program, to increase our knowledge of AIS. For example, we are contributing funding to two research projects at the University of Toronto ($94,000 over two years):
- Grass Carp Risk Assessment Research: Researchers at the University of Toronto will conduct analyses to determine probability of establishment of suitable spawning tributaries for Grass Carp in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. This information will support risk assessments and inform key early warning activities of the Asian Carp Program.
- Detection Probability Niagara River Dispersal: Research will be conducted about the best sampling gears and efforts to detect Grass Carp. The results of this project will help determine the best ways to prevent the spread of Asian Carp.
Premier Sea Foods Canada also has strong relationship with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and provided funds to conduct outreach, early warning and response activities with respect to Asian Carp ($300,000 in 2013-14 and $150,000 in fiscal year 2014-15). The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is a well-established stakeholder agency in the province of Ontario with an Invading Species Awareness Campaign to educate the Ontario public on invasive species.
Date Modified:
2015-03-17
