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Because aquatic invasive species affect Louisiana to a far greater degree than most other states, Governor Murphy J. Foster, Jr. took the initiative to create an organization who’s main goal was to propose specific management actions to minimize the impact of these aquatic invasive species. The Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force was created on June 4, 2002 by Executive Order MJF 02-11. The Task Force which is led by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, was created with the intention of unifying both private and governmental sectors in order to control Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species. Prior to the formation of the task force, the control of aquatic invasive species was not designated to one entity. The work of both governmental and private sectors remained very unorganized and the overlapping work between these two sectors remained very ambiguous. Thus, it was deemed necessary that members of the Task Force should be drawn from multiple sectors within the state. These sectors include: nine state entities, six federal agencies, four universities, six stakeholder groups, and four industry representatives. With this unification the Louisiana State Government hopes to accomplish the goal of cooperation to better inform, address, and control the problem of aquatic invasive species in the state of Louisiana.

See also: National Invasive Species Act, List of invasive species, and Invasive species

Environmental Issue

History of Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species

Because of the unique geography of the state of Louisiana, whose location rests at the crossroads of major transportation routes, introduced species in Louisiana can be traced back to the first waves of French colonizers during the middle part of the 18th century. Some of these introduced species have proven to be beneficial to Louisiana. For example, Sugarcane and cotton, originally introduced species, are two of Louisiana’s biggest crops. Other introduced species have remained benign such as azaleas and crape myrtles, which serve as two of Louisiana's favorite ornamental plants. Unfortunately though, some introduced species (invasive species) have become very problematic environmental and economic issues. These species, whether brought here by accident or on purpose, have infested and multiplied rapidly and disturbed both our environments and economies. One example of a harmful effect of an invasive species in Louisiana can be seen through the yellow-fever epidemic of the late nineteenth century which was introduced by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Only after several centuries of infestation and havoc has the issue of these invasive species come to be addressed with the proper concern.

Current Problems

As world commerce and globalization increases, so does the problem of invasive species. The growth and development of the world trade system has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of new species being introduced to ecosystems and the frequency with which such introductions are made. Introduced species can tag along in packaging, ride in a ship’s ballast water, travel in the baggage of returning passengers, or be shipped and sold as products. Because of this, the opening of new markets or trade routes often brings new species along with the traded goods. The growth in the volume of trade along these routes increases the frequency with which introductions are repeated. In some cases, the introduced species are themselves the object of trade, whereas, in others, they are ‘passengers’ on traded goods, packaging or the vehicles of trade. Although only a small proportion of introduced species turn out to be harmful, those that are have historically caused substantial damage and control costs.

What is Being Done

Because the effects of non-indigenous species are not immediate it has taken nearly two centuries for authority figures to realize the large accidental or intentional impacts these organisms have on the state. Several factors have been the cause of why Louisiana has traditionally served as a particularly challenging resource management issue. In particular the complex nature of species introduction, the various pathways of diffusion, and the numerous governmental jurisdictions through which invasive species spread unite to make maintaining and preventing aquatic invasive species in Louisiana a particularly challenging resource management issue. With this in mind Louisiana governmental officials set out to designate formal leadership and structure to battle these issues. This is how the Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force was formed.

Executive Order MJF 02-11

The Executive Order MJF 02-11 as described by Governor Mike Foster Jr. indicates that certain aquatic plant and animal species which are non-indigenous continue to pose a threat to the state of Louisiana's indigenous aquatic species and native ecosystems. The document goes on to determine that "the state of Louisiana and its citizens will be best served by public and private scientific communities partnering with federal agencies and the state of Louisiana through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to develop an environmentally compatible means to contain, control, eradicate, and/or prevent the introduction of non-indigenous aquatic species in the waters of the state of Louisiana and through an advisory task force"

Members of the Task Force

Originally, as designated by Section 4 of Executive order MJF 02-11: "The Task Force shall be composed of a maximum of twenty-nine (29) members." Today the Task Force is chaired by the chair of the Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Council and has expanded to seat 31 members as designated by RS 56:360.2. These positions, as stated directly from the article include:

1. The district commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District.
2. The district engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District.
3. The district chief for the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey, Louisiana district.
4. The Region 4 director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta office
5. The state plant health director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine.
6. The chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
7. The chancellor of the University of New Orleans.
8. The director of the Center for Bioenvironmental Research, Tulane University and Xavier University.
9. The president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
10. The executive director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.
11. The regional administrator of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior.
12. The president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Association.
13. The president of the Louisiana Marine and Motorcycle Trades Association.
14. The executive director of the Louisiana Sea Grant Program.
15. The director of the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program.
16. The executive director of the Louisiana Landowners Association.
17. The executive director of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association.
18. The executive director of the Louisiana Forestry Association.
19. The president of the Ports Association of Louisiana.
20. The executive director of the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.
21. The president of the Louisiana Chemical Association.
22. The executive director of the Steamship Association of Louisiana.
23. A representative of the electrical utility industry in Louisiana appointed by the Louisiana Electric Utilities Association.
24. The president of Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.
25. The chairman of the Louisiana Aquaculture Advisory Task Force.
26. The chief of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Habitat Conservation Division Office in Louisiana.
27. The state veterinarian employed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
28. The state entomologist appointed by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
29. The executive director of the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.
30. The director of horticulture and quarantine programs for the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
31. An Oyster Task Force member appointed by the chairman of the Oyster Task Force.

Duties of the Task Force

The duties of the Task Force can be found in Section 2 of the Executive Order MJF 02-11. These duties as outlined in Section 2 include the fundamental procedures that must be followed. The duties of the Task Force include, but are not limited to: compiling useful information on Louisiana aquatic invasive species, identifying and coordinating action management plans with all agencies of and entities in the state of Louisiana which have interaction or contact with aquatic invasive species, as well as identification, documentation, and formation of eradication plans designated for Louisiana aquatic invasive species.

State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species in Louisiana

Background

The Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Task force decided that in order to maintain a stable and cooperative effort against aquatic invasive species, a management plan must be set into place. In spring 2004, Task Force members Senator Gerald Theunissen and Representative Wilfred Pierre co-sponsored a bill in the legislature that called for the Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Task Force to implement this management plan.

In this plan Task Force members deemed it necessary that the invasive species state management plan should reflect its geographically distinguishing characteristics. That is, the plan should emphasize how these species arrived here and spread, because these geographical factors inform how invasive species may be controlled and managed. This living document is Louisiana’s first state management plan for invasive species, and one of the first in the region.

In terms of organization, the State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species in Louisiana serves to coordinate efforts from all state invasive species management organizations into a single unit. Under this collaboration there is full communication rather than dispersed, uncoordinated state management that is no longer susceptible to duplications in work or gaps in effort. Such a planning effort aims to not only improve the efficiency of field actions, but also coordinates the opportunity for more funding opportunities for the proposed actions. Cooperation among the Task Force members that were drawn from these numerous organizations was key to the development of this management plan, and will be even more critical to its execution.

In terms of management, The State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species in Louisiana was set in place for the purpose of identifying and describing the specific extent of the aquatic invasive species problem in the state of Louisiana. In addition to addressing these issues, the management plan set in place a specific set of coordinated actions to progressively battle the ongoing fight to prevent and control aquatic invasive species in Louisiana.

Contents of the Management Plan

Pathways of Diffusion

The Task Force saw the need to address the geographical problems of species invasions. In doing so, The Task Force outlined specific modes of transportation and pathways of invasion that aquatic invasive species must take. As cited directly from the management plan, these modes include:

• Shipping • Recreational Boating and Fishing • Sport-fishing introductions • Pet and aquarium introductions • Transportation corridors (highways, waterways, railroads) • River Diversions • Ballast water • Deliberate Horticultural and Aquaculture introductions

Species addressed

Because the Task Force also recognized that some management actions should be targeted at the species level rather than the geographic level, the Task Force included specific management action for a specific set of species that have had profound effects in Louisiana. The following species as derived from the Louisiana State Management Plan for invasive species are stated as follows:

Water hyacinth, Brazilian waterweed, Common salvinia, Purple loosestrife, Common carp, Bighead carp, Asian clam, Green mussel, Feral hogs, Hydrilla, Eurasian watermilfoil, Giant salvinia, “Cylindro”, Grass carp,Black carp, Zebra mussel, Africanized honeybee, Chinese mitten crab, Chinese tallow tree, Silver carp, Tilapia, Australian spotted jellyfish, Green crab, Parrot feather, Asian tiger mosquito, Daphnia lumholtzi, Brown mussel, Nutria, Formosan termite, Wild taro, Water lettuce, Cogongrass, Rio Grande cichlid, Channeled apple snail, Red imported fire ant

Objectives of the Management Plan

The specific objectives of the Louisiana State Management plan for aquatic invasive species are carried out by the Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. As stated directly from the Management plan the five objectives include:

1. Coordination of Louisiana's aquatic invasive species programs with collaboration from regional, national, and international aquatic invasive species programs.
2. Prevention and control of invasive species through education about these species and pathways.
3. Elimination of locally established invasive species through monitoring, early detection, rapid response, and early eradication.
4. Controlling the spread of established invasive species and minimizing their impacts when eradication is impossible.
5. Prevention of new non-native species as well as the spread of existing ones through legislation and strict regualtion.

Management Actions

In understanding the general objectives that the Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force was entrusted with, the Task Force proposed several specific management actions to minimize negative impacts of these invasive species. Under the Louisiana Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan these specific management actions were outlined and geared toward resolving the problem of aquatic invasive species. Some examples of ongoing, funded management activities in Louisiana include:

• The Nuisance Aquatic Plant Control Program that promotes ongoing water hyacinth, hydrilla, and other invasive plant removal from wetlands and bayous.

• The Nutria Bounty Program which advocates licensed hunters to harvest nutria for a set compensation per tial.

• A “Citizen’s Guide to Invasive Species in Louisiana” which provides public outreach to inform local residents and visitors to Louisiana on the local invasive species.

Unfortunately though, many programs outlined in the Management Plan still remain unfunded to this day. Some of these management actions include the development of a statewide Rapid Response and Early Eradication Plan which could aid greatly in both prevention and emergency control situations.

External Links

• "State Management Plan for Aquatic Invasive Species in Louisiana" (PDF). Retrieved September 26, 2012.
• http://is.cbr.tulane.edu/docs_IS/LA_Letter_of_Transmittal_Blanco.pdf
• http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=285477
• http://anstaskforce.gov/Meetings/la_is_final_state_management_plan_july_2005_small.pdf