Invasive Species as a Trilateral Challenge

Preventing the Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasives Species in North America

Commission forEnvironmental Cooperation

Of North America

Three Countries.Three Countries.

One Environment.One Environment.

In North AmericaIn North America

• 400 million people

• Shared ecosystem

– Transboundary flow of air, water, species and threats

• 400 million people

• Shared ecosystem

– Transboundary flow of air, water, species and threats

• Open economy• Open economy

In North AmericaIn North America

• 400 million people

• Shared ecosystem

– Transboundary flow of air, water, species and threats

• 400 million people

• Shared ecosystem

– Transboundary flow of air, water, species and threats

– $11 trillion goods/services

– NAFTA – doubled trade since 1993

– $11 trillion goods/services

– NAFTA – doubled trade since 1993

This project seeks to protect North America’s marine and aquatic ecosystems from the effects of aquatic

invasive species. The initiative will assist the development of a North American approach to

prevention and control aimed at eliminating pathways for the introduction of invasive species among the

coastal and fresh waters of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The CEC stewardship role

The challenge of Invasive Species in NA• Numerous national and international initiatives and

agreements are dealing already with the problem

• Regional cooperation on invasives is currently incipient but is promising

• CEC can help attain a continental perspective that includes all stakeholders

• A trilateral approach to the prevention & control of invasive species could enable all three countries to make the issue a significant priority, develop a mutually supportive legal &

policy frameworks, share information and technical capacity, and use limited resources efficiently

1st. NA Workshop on Preventing the

Introduction and Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Montreal, 2001

IndustryWildlife managersPolicy makersLaw enforcementScientists, academics, modellersNGOs

Ballast waterAquaculture

Live bait Aquarists

Bio-informaticsC & P: Regulatory approachesC & P:Voluntary approachesPublic awarness & outreach

Bio-informatics, modelling & prediction

• Promote the use of shared vocabularies for indexing and accessing information on invasive species

• Increase taxonomic capacity; Correct and timely identification of invasive species is essential to any information system supporting their detection, assessment and control.

• Timely and accessible use of information; Given the economic and ecological importance of introduced species, promote free and open access to information on the identity, occurrences, spread, and risks associated with aquatic invasive species

Control & prevention: Regulatory approaches

• Who is who: Directory of North American government agencies and other institutions dealing with invasive species

• Understand regulatory frameworks, identify gaps and share lessons learned

• Identify Invasive Species of Common Concern: Government attention

• Identify North American Priorities for Vectors and Pathways

• Identify regional actions required to heighten awareness of invasive species problem: Organize Regional Workshops

Control & prevention: Voluntary approaches

Goal: Improve management practices and consumer behavior. Minimize the probability of the establishment of exotic species at minimal cost• Conduct baseline and follow up survey

of industry and public regarding its knowledge and use of codes of conducts

• Identify economic incentives to encourage public and industry participation

• Measure compliance costs and competitiveness effects of each economic incentive identified

Public Awareness Development

Goal: Raise awareness of the public concerning the threats, consequences (both ecological and economic) of aquatic invasive species and potential actions that can be taken to change the attitudes and behaviors of society

• Coordinate a mass media campaign to help change attitudes and actions of society

• Develop and strengthen networks of stakeholders involved in and concerned about the aquatic invasive species issue

• Encourage public participation and involvement in actions to prevent, control and eradicate aquatic invasive species

Recommended priority areas for cooperation in North America

• A NA Invasive Species Information Network;

• Regional directory of legal and institutional frameworks for both regulatory and voluntary measures;

• Identify invasive species and invasion pathways of common concern and priorities for bi- or tri-lateral cooperation;

• Develop and distribute tools for raising awareness of the issue and empowering key stakeholders; 

• Identify tools to provide economic incentives to industries and other private stakeholders.

1. Translation of Educational materials & video/book accessible to a wide public

2. Consumer awareness project Aquaria

3. Completing a continental biological survey

4. Cost-Benefit assessment methodology (Economic impact)

5. NA distributed database on Aquatic Invasive Species

1. Monosexual populations of potential invasive crustaceans

2. Monitoring program for freshwater & marine plankton

3. Prevention of spreading invasive algae/sea weed on the Pacific Coast of NA

4. HACCP for tilapia as a model

5. Evaluation of native/exotic fish diversity Rio Grande – Rio Bravo

Cooperation Priorities identifiedSan Diego, 2003