The environmental, and economic, costs of invasive species
Ignoring the impacts of ecosystem changes comes with a price tag
By Alexandra Pecci
The New Hampshire Business Review
T
he tunicate is a spineless marine animal
that’s better known by another name -- sea squirt, which sounds like a
cute little creature that might be the best friend of a cartoon mermaid.
But Larry Harris has a nickname for didemnum, one particular kind of
sea squirt that is anything but cute.
"My term for it is the tunicate from hell,” says Harris, professor and
chair of the department of biological sciences at the University of New
Hampshire.
That’s because didemnum grow in thick, sheet-like colonies that cover
moorings, pilings, float bottoms and anything else they can get a hold
of. In New Hampshire, it’s a serious marine pest.
Didemnum is one of many non-native, invasive species that dominate the
coastal waters of New Hampshire and New England. Invasive marine species
like didemnum do more than simply take over their new environments.
“It does have economic impacts,” Harris says. “Everything from clogging
intakes to cooling systems of water treatment plans to having a
negative impact on aquacultures.” ...
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New York State DEC proposes regulatory changes to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species at boat launches
By WBNG News
(WBNG Binghamton) The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is proposing new regulations to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species at DEC boat launches, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced.
The proposed regulatory changes require boaters to remove all visible
plants and animals from boats, trailers and associated equipment and to
drain boats before launching at or leaving a DEC boat launch and
waterway access.
DEC will accept public comments on the proposal through
February 24, 2014. Comments on the proposed regulations can be sent via
e-mail to fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us, or mailed to Edward Woltmann, New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of
Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753. ...
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