Curbing Invasion Pathways: A Sea Grant U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Pilot Partnership to Assess and Enhance Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness among Coastal Anglers and Boaters Nancy Balcom, Connecticut Sea Grant / UCONN William Nelson, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, First District MSD Eric Charles Dyson and John Bair, University of Connecticut
Impetus Yarish et al. from 2009 to 2011 examined macroalgae, microalgae and inverts associated with Bladder Wrack in boxes of live marine bait worms 1 14 species of brown & green macroalgae and 23 species of invertebrates associated with boxes of bait worms Highly diverse microbial assemblage detected Two known HAB species Alexandrium fundyense, and Pseudonitzschia multiseries found prior to, and after, incubation at various temps Reinforced concerns raised by Lau (1995) and Cohen et al. (2001) that live marine bait, such as bait worms and particularly the seaweed they are packed in, can serve as vector for non native introductions 1 Haska et al. 2012. Bait worm packaging as a potential vector of invasive species. Biol. Invasions 14:481 493.
Impetus Prevention priorities identified in the State of Connecticut Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan: (3 B 3) Minimize bait industry introductions (3 C 1) Minimize recreational boating and fishing introductions Prevention priorities identified in the draft Long Island Sound Interstate Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan: (3 C 1) Minimize introductions from fouled recreational boat hulls (3 C 2) Minimize introductions from angling activities Approached by USCG Aux about collaborating on aquatic invasive species outreach
Focused Concerns Improper disposal of unused live marine bait and its associated natural packing material Poor hull maintenance and upkeep
Outreach Campaign From 2011 to 2012, pilot social marketing campaign focused on coastal boaters and anglers utilizing the Long Island Sound estuary
Partners CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Marine Fisheries and Boating US Coast Guard Auxiliary (District 1, Divisions 7, 24 & 25) and Sea Partners Program, Sector Long Island Sound Bait Retailers (11) Marinas New York Sea Grant Funded by Long Island Sound Study Futures Fund through National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and Connecticut Sea Grant / UCONN
Anglers Multi lingual signage posted at coastal access points CGAUX, DEEP and Sea Grant had displays at fishing show Fact sheet, ruler stickers for coolers, neck wallets Don t Dump Bait stickers applied to bait purchases at point of sale by 10 retailers in 2011 and 5 retailers in 2012.
Boaters Hull fouling posters distributed to marinas, posted at coastal access points CGAUX (Sea Partners), DEEP and Sea Grant had displays at boating shows
Key chains and other materials handed out via DEEP SE/V Prudence and by AIS trained USCG Auxiliarists during their program visits and courtesy vessel inspections (on volunteer basis)
395 coastal boaters and anglers surveyed during summers 2011 and 2012 to document individual practices to determine familiarity with aquatic invasive species and outreach campaign materials Open ended anonymous survey
3. Have you ever heard of aquatic invasive or aquatic nuisance species? 4. Do you believe aquatic invasive species are a problem in LI Sound? 2011 N=229 2012 N = 166 2011 N=229 2012 N = 160
5. Do you consider yourself a saltwater angler, recreational boater, or both? 6. (If angler or both) Do you use any live marine bait, such as sand worms? 2011 N=229 2012 N = 166 2011 N=192 2012 N = 99
6a. (If Yes) What do you do with unused live bait at end of fishing trip? 6b. (If Yes) What do you do with seaweed / packing material that the live worms are packed with? 2011 N=147 2012 N = 85 2011 N=147 2012 N = 80
7. Have you seen this Don t Dump Bait message? 2011 N=192 2012 N = 157 7a. Where? Bait shops (31, 11) Coast Guard Auxiliary (0, 22) Boat ramp (0, 28) Other anglers (0, 5) Online (0, 2) Boating Safety Course (0, 3)
8. (If Boater or both) Can you name at least one way to avoid accidentally transporting organisms from one marine body of water to another? 2011 N=207 2012 N = 152
9. Have you seen this Stop Aquatic Hitchhiking message? 9a. Where? 2011 N=207 2012 N = 159 Bait shops (29, 14) Coast Guard Auxiliary (0, 21) Boat ramp (0, 19) Other anglers (0, 8) Online (0, 3) Boating Safety Course (0, 2)
10. What is your reaction when you see these and other messages about aquatic invasive species on items such as stickers, magnets, key chains and signs? 2011 N=228 2012 N = 165
Focus on simple messages and repeat them Provide ongoing exposure to messages in variety of forms and locations to increase familiarity Develop key partnerships to increase exposure CG AUX volunteers talked up AIS during about 400 vessel inspections and 500+ program visits in 2012 = tremendous coverage! Recognize those partnerships publicly! Establishing unique email address for more information did not work Funding constraints additional materials Extending project from 1 to 2 years enabled some comparisons but anonymity of survey negated ability to document behavior changes (anticipated)
Acknowledgments William Nelson, USCG Auxiliary, Marine Safety Detachment Charlie Dyson and John Bair, former UCONN undergrads Ginny Lovas and Bill Ensign, USCGAUX Division 7 Mike Headd, USCGAUX Division 25 Mark Bennett, USCGAUX Division 24 Capt. Joseph Vojvodich, COTP, Sector LIS Micheal Lake, Sea Partners Program, Sector LIS David Molnar, CT DEEP Marine Fisheries Wendy Flynn, CT DEEP Boating Antoinette Clemetson, NYSG Hillyer's Tackle Shop Ted's Bait & Tackle Captain Morgan's Bait & Tackle Dee's Bait & Tackle Fisherman's Paradise Bait & Tackle Master Bait & Tackle Bobby J's Bait & Tackle Jimmy O's Bait & Tackle Westport Outfitters Fisherman's World Inc. Tidewater Bait & Tackle Cedar Island Marina
Questions?