106 



mented this process in the case of the unintentional introduction of the ruffe, a Eu- 

 ropean perch species, via ballast water into Lake Superior. The Task Force decided 

 that control of this species was warranted and set up a Ruffe Control Committee. 

 A proposed control program has been developed, and when the environmental as- 

 sessment document has been completed, it will be released for public review. 



The Act mandated development of a Research Protocol so that research activities 

 funded under the Act do not themselves result in introductions of aquatic nuisance 

 species. Last year, the Task Force approved a final protocol developed by the Re- 

 search Protocol Committee. The protocol establishes a decision tree to assess risks 

 and contains guidelines outlining preventive containment and confinement proce- 

 dures that must be followed on any research conducted under the Act. 



Section 1204 of the Act provides that individual States mav submit State Aquatic 

 Nuisance Management Plans to the Task Force for approval. States with approved 

 Management Plans are eligible for a Federal grant program for projects to prevent 

 and control aquatic nuisance species. The first plan was submitted by the State of 

 New York. The Task Force approved the plan on March 1, 1994. 



Although the fccus of the Act was on unintentional introductions of aquatic nui- 

 sance species, Section 1207 requires the Task Force to submit a report to Congress 

 containing recommendations for reducing the risks associated with intentional intro- 

 duction of non-indigenous aquatic species. The report is finished and has been sub- 

 mitted to the full Task Force for approval. We expect to submit the report to Con- 

 gress this Spring following Administration approval. 



In addition to co-chairing the Task Force and those activities mentioned above, 

 NOAA has been involved with a number of other non-indigenous species activities. 

 Our involvement dates back to the early 19708 when the agency was created. At 

 that time, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) established a shellfish dis- 

 ease research program. In addition to shellfish pathogen and parasite research, 

 NMFS monitors the presence of pathogens in imported seafood through a Memoran- 

 dum of Understanding with the Food and Drug Administration. NMFS also has pro- 

 vided technical advice to the State of Hawaii and serves on the State panel that 

 reviews proposed introductions of aquatic species. 



NOAAs National Sea Grant College Program administers aquatic nuisance spe- 

 cies research grants. Sea Grant researchers address a variety of aquatic nuisance 

 species issues, including the brown mussel on the Gulf of Mexico coast, ballast 

 water studies in the Chesapeake Bay, sea lamprey and watermilfoil (aquatic plant) 

 in the Great Lakes, and Spartina marshgrass in the Pacific Northwest. The Sea 

 Grant Zebra Mussel program is concentrating on the effects of zebra, mussels on 

 infi-astructure and the environment, and on the development and evaluation of po- 

 tential control methods. The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory has 

 set up a Non-indigenous Species Coordinated Research Program. Under this pro- 

 gram, researchers have set up a monitoring program in Saginaw Bay in Lake 

 Huron. They monitored the Bay both prior to and following infestation by zebra 

 mussels. They are also conducting a series of life history studies. 



The National Sea Grant College P*rogram also provides education and technical 

 assistance through its State Sea Grant Offices and Marine Advisory Service pro- 

 gram. The Zebra Mussel Information Clearinghouse is a project of New York Sea 

 Grant. The Clearinghouse publishes Dreissena polymorpha Information Review 

 which summarizes research, meetings, legislation, and sightings of zebra mussels as 

 means of encouraging and facilitating communication among interested parties. It 

 provides copies of papers on zebra mussels published in scientific journals. This 

 project has created a closely integrated network of researchers and extension agents 

 who are developing control methods and communicating the results to local commu- 

 nities, affected industries, and management agencies including some inland states 

 without their own Sea Grant Programs. 



NOAA's National Estuarine and Research Reserve System has monitoring pro- 

 grams to establish baseline parameters on species presence in a variety of coastal 

 areas. The sites are well integrated with State agencies and nearby academic com- 

 munities. They can be used as a framework fi-om which to initiate a long-term mon- 

 itoring program on the occurrence and spread of non-indigenous species. Beginning 

 in 1995, NERRS will have as a research priority the study of alterations of habitat 

 utilization by coastal biota and restoration of coastal habitats that have been im- 

 pacted by non-indigenous species. 



The waters of the United States are a resource of immeasurable environmental, 

 economic and aesthetic value. Although the Task Force started slowly, we have 

 picked up the pace and are well on the way to establishing a comprehensive pro- 

 gram to deal with the risks presented by non-indigenous species. Further rec- 

 ommendations are likely to emerge as a result of some of the studies that I have 

 mentioned. Although it is not possible to prevent all species introductions — indeed 



