Want updates on all Hawaii’s Invasive species? This update from the AIS Team was provided to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council(HISC) as part of their bi-monthly newsletter!
HISC News is a semi-monthly newsletter that provides:
- Recurring updates from active response efforts
- Announcements and programmatic updates from agencies and partners
- Upcoming events. This newsletter is sent to the full HISC email list, and readers can subscribe/unsubscribe at hisc.hawaii.gov
View the full HISC update for October/November HERE.
_______________________________________________
The Hawaiʻi Aquatic Invasive Species field team, continues to monitor the area where non-native coral species were extracted from patch reefs in O‘ahu’s Kāneʻohe Bay. AIS team lead, aquatic biologist Kim Fuller explained, “Our team is responsible for rapidly responding to new reports of non-native aquatic species and assessing next steps for management. Non-native species have the potential to become invasive and negatively impact our native ecosystems, the economy and human well-being. It is necessary to respond to non-native species reports in a timely manner before they have time to establish and spread.”
See the full story here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ais/2020/08/05/non-native-corals-removed-from-kane%ca%bbohe-bay/
_______________________________________________
A decade of urchin activity in Kaneʻohe Bay leads to seaweed-free corals as the DAR urchin Hatchery plans 600,000 Urchins to be released in the Bay by End of 2020.
See the full story here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ais/2020/08/05/a-decade-of-urchin-activity-in-kane%ca%bbohe-bay-leads-to-seaweed-free-corals/
_______________________________________________
The AIS team presented at this year’s virtual Hawaii Conservation Conference. Presentations have been posted online for viewing:
-
- HCC Presentation: Improving Hawaiʻi’s Genetic and Taxonomic Organism Inventory Using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)
- HCC Presentation: Rapid Response and Distribution Investigation of Bartholomea annulata (the Caribbean Corkscrew Anemone), A Novel Introduction to Hawaiʻi.
- HCC Presentation: Coral Reef Restoration using Native Sea Urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) for Biocontrol of Invasive Macroalgae
- HCC Presentation: Exploring Innovative Control Options for the Caribbean Corkscrew Anenome (Bartholomea annulata), a Novel Introduction to Hawaiʻi
- HCC Presentation: Evaluating United States Policy Intended to Reduce Collisions Between Vessels and Cetaceans in the Pacific
_______________________________________________
In accordance with the VIDA statute (search for “Title IX VESSEL INCIDENTAL DISCHARGE ACT”), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the proposed rule “Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance” in the Federal Register on Monday, October 26th. There will be a 30-day period to submit comments in the Federal Register, which closes on November 25. DAR and CGAPS staff presented a HISC Brownbag webinar Friday, October 23 on Hawai`i invasive species concerns with the EPA’s proposed rule and can be viewed HERE.
_______________________________________________
The AIS team has been developing Pre-border and Post-border AIS databases for Hawai`i. The Pre-border database will keep a record of species of concern, screen for risk of invasion, and prioritize species for management action. Species records were compiled to develop the Post-border database, which will be used to generate species lists, better understand species ranges and vectors of introduction, track established species, and inform management actions. These projects address two key actions in the HISC/CGAPS 2025 Joint Strategy, and will be discussed at the next HISC Aquatic Biosecurity Working Group meeting this December to obtain input from partners and identify areas for collaboration.