50 



dedication among Federal agencies in addressing non-indigenous 

 species problems. 



Thank you. That concludes my remarks. 



Senator Akaka. Thank you very much. 



May we hear now from Katharine Kimball? 



TESTIMONY OF KATHARINE W. KIMBALL,i DEPUTY ASSISTANT 

 SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE, NATIONAL 

 OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DE- 

 PARTMENT OF COMMERCE 



Ms. Kimball. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am Kate Kimball, 

 Deputy Assistant Secretary at NCAA within the Department of 

 Commerce. I am also co-chair of the Interagency Aquatic Nuisance 

 Species Task Force which was established under the Non-Indige- 

 nous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. I ap- 

 preciate this opportunity to discuss the risks presented by both un- 

 intentional and intentional introductions of non-indigenous species. 

 Recognizing that the Committee has heard from other witnesses 

 touching on fresh water introduction, I will emphasize salt water 

 aspects of this issue in my testimony. 



The Act was designed to mitigate the overall problem of aquatic 

 nuisance species by establishing an interagency task force to de- 

 velop Federal policies that would prevent and mitigate the prob- 

 lems associated with introductions of non-indigenous species. Al- 

 though the majority of funds originally authorized under the Act 

 have not been appropriated, the task force has made an effort to 

 fulfill its responsibilities under the Act. 



There are examples of species introductions into marine environ- 

 ments that have had negative impacts, although none as great as 

 the impact of the introduction of zebra mussels. The introduced 

 green algae was first considered to be a nuisance in the area of 

 Long Island in the early 1970s. The species has now spread as far 

 south as South Carolina, and there is concern that if it spreads far- 

 ther it could affect coral reefs by blocking the sunlight on which 

 they are dependent. 



Whenever they occur, there are a number of potential risks asso- 

 ciated with both unintentional and intentional introductions. An in- 

 troduced species may cause the decline of native species in a num- 

 ber of different ways. Indigenous species may be affected by direct 

 predation, competition for key habitat or other resources, or hybrid- 

 ization. Serious pathogens or parasites also may accompany a spe- 

 cies when it is introduced. 



For example, edthough of uncertain origin, one only need consider 

 the impact of MSX and dermocystidium on oyster production in the 

 Chesapeake Bay to see the potential problem. MSX and dermo- 

 cystidium have reduced oyster harvests in the Chesapeake Bay 

 from 3 million bushels a year to less than 100,000 bushels per 

 year. 



Pathogens also have a serious impact on a number of economi- 

 cally important species. They have been transferred with salmon 

 and shrimp. The State of Hawaii, for example, has among the most 

 stringent screening requirements for diseases in large part because 



^ The prepared statement of Ms. Kimball appears on page 103. 



