The New Zealand Mudsnail National Management and Control Plan – What Now?

The conference began with a welcome from Dr. Christine Moffitt. Kelly Stockton provided an overview of the schedule for the conference. All participants introduced themselves, and indicated their reason for attending the conference. The presentations began following this introduction. Invasive Species Coordinator from the USFWS Region 1 led a discussion of the existing New Zealand Mudsnail (NZMS) National Management and Control Plan. Paul's presentation explained the history behind the plan, some of the issues that are addressed in it and opportunities to update and refine it. The plan was adopted by the national Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force ((www.anstaskforce.gov) as authorized under federal legislation. The plan aims to promote management, coordinate local efforts, and to enhance funding support. Plans are in place for other invasive species such as Asian Carp, Ruffe, etc. The national plan began after the first NZMS conference, and in 2003 the ANS Task Force created a working group, headed by Tina Proctor of the USFWS. A final draft was released in 2006 for comments and a final version adopted in 2007. The plan contains a species description, summary of biology/ecology, applicable state and federal laws, objectives, research needs, implementation priorities and technical appendices. The major objectives of the plan are categorized into implementation tasks (IT) and research Tasks (RT): 1) Identify Foci, Pathways and Vectors. (IT): Develop pathway risk assessments, guidance for risk/impact assessments, support and expand Western NZMS information and coordinate with USGS NAS database. (RT): Characterize habitat and ecosystems that preclude NZMS. 2) Detection of New Populations. (IT): Develop national web-based database on monitoring efforts, increase coordination among agencies to get more timely reporting of new populations. 3) Prevention, Control and Management. IT: A hatchery certification of NZMS free evaluations, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP for aquaculture permits).RT: Gear treatment methods, one-size fits all AIS disinfection methods. 4) IT: Develop funding sources for research; RT: Surveys and studies to investigate impacts on community structure etc. 5) Outreach and Education,-IT: raise awareness of pathway-specific audiences, volunteer angler corps for peer-to-peer outreach; RT: Analyze how effective current efforts are at obtaining objectives.