Michigan Aquaculture Association

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The fishing openers last weekend were slow, but catch rates should pick up as warmer temperatures push into the state, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report. The DNR said water levels are low in some of the rivers and inland lakes so use caution especially at the boat launches. Read more …

Last week, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced that the draft Aquatic Invasive Species State Management Plan is available for public comment, and a public meeting is scheduled in April to discuss the draft plan.

The AIS State Management Plan details existing and proposed strategic actions needed to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS, and to limit the harmful effects in Michigan waters. Invasive species negatively impact Michigan’s aquatic ecosystems, creating environmental and economic consequences.

Michigan’s original AIS State Management Plan was completed in 1996 under the auspices of the National Invasive Species Act, and last updated in 2002. It offers a comprehensive strategic guide for state agencies charged with responding to existing invasive species and preventing the introduction of new ones.

Where the original plan focused largely on responding to specific invasive species, the draft update announced today places stronger emphasis on blocking pathways of AIS introduction and spread. Strategies for the early detection of AIS and rapid response actions to manage them are also included in the draft plan.

The draft management plan update is a collaborative effort involving several state agencies, including the DEQ and state departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Transportation. Plan authors solicited input from partners and stakeholders to identify gaps and strengthen the overall plan. Feedback received from previous public meetings and comment periods in 2008 and 2009 also contributed to the current plan.

A public meeting is scheduled April 12 at the Best Western Plus in Lansing, from 12:45 – 4:45 p.m. This meeting will provide more background on the AIS State Management Plan and give interested parties the opportunity to provide feedback and comments.

The meeting is open to the public and intended for anyone with a vested interest and/or concern for AIS issues in Michigan. Breakout sessions will provide participants the opportunity to share comments on AIS issues associated with boating and ballast water, organisms in trade and habitat alteration, AIS management and control, and early detection and rapid response. While there is no fee to attend the public meeting, advance registration is requested.

The draft AIS State Management Plan is available for review here.

The Web site also offers additional meeting details and instructions for submitting comments, which are accepted through May 1. For more information, contact Sarah LeSage of DEQ’s Water Resources Division at lesages@michigan.gov.

Following two successful invasive species conferences in 2008 and 2010 (Previously the Minnesota-Wisconsin Invasive Species Conference), the expanded Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference 2012 will be held at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin from October 29-31, 2012.

Click here to go to the abstract submission webpage with instructions for authors. 
Abstract submission deadline is Monday, April 16, 2012 at 11:00 pm CST

The purpose of UMISC 2012 is to exchange information on invasive species topics. This is an all-taxa conference covering invasive aquatic and terrestrial plants, animals, pests, and pathogens. The foci are to 1) strengthen awareness of invasive species issues, prevention, and management; and 2) facilitate information sharing and collaboration among researchers, land managers, natural resource professionals, university personnel, landscapers, nursery, agricultural or forestry employees, environmental specialists, lake association members, land owners, governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and others interested in controlling the spread of invasive species in the Upper Midwest.

The host organizations are the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin, Midwest Invasive Plant Network, Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council, and Wisconsin Council on Invasive Species. We expect participants to come from across the Midwest region, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. 

CONFERENCE SESSIONS WILL FOCUS ON: 

Invasive Species Biology, Ecology, Impacts, and Distribution
Biology, Ecology, Impacts, and Distribution of Invasive Species. 

Invasive Species Prevention
Risk Assessment, Outreach and Education, Regulation, Available Technology, Containment of Established Invasive Species, Proactive Industry and Agency Procedures, Proactive Land Management Practices, Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness, and Silvicultural Research 

Invasive Species Early Detection, Response, Containment and Preparedness
Early Detection Surveys-design, results, modeling, and outreach; Response Planning-plans, exercises, lessons learned; Response Examples, and Eradication Efforts. 

Invasive Species Control and Management
Integrated Pest Management, Biological Control, Management Tactics-chemical and non-chemical, and Cooperative Control Efforts e.g. Cooperative Weed Management Areas. 

Post-Invasion Restoration
Vegetation Replacement-needs, funding opportunities, policy, Monitoring-designs, plans, and successes, Restoration Limitations and Challenges.

For more information:

UMISC 2012
Conference Administration Office
2651 N Downer Ave. Suite #6
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
Phone: 414.967.1350
Belle Bergner, Conference Administrator
bbergner@umisc2012.org

The 2012 NCRAC Annual Program Planning Meeting was held in East Lansing, MI, last month. For those of you not familiar with this program, NCRAC (North central Regional Aquaculture Center) is one of five Regional Aquaculture Centers administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). These centers work together within the broader, integrated aquaculture program of USDA to promote a well developed and sustainable aquaculture industry in the United States.

NCRAC consists of an Industry Advisory Council (IAC), made up of industry representatives from 12 states in the North Central Region (NCR), a Technical Committee (TC) from among academia and state agency personnel, and Board of Directors.  The purpose of the Annual Program Meeting is to select priorities for the upcoming funding cycle made available through USDA.

This year’s project selection process resulted in the following priorities:

• Regional Aquaculture Extension
• NCRAC Base extension
• Early survival of yellow perch fry and larva in intensive indoor systems
• Developing genetically fast-growing monosex male bluegill sunfish

Calls for Statements of Interest will be distributed to the NCR aquaculture community in the near future (typically 6-10 weeks).  Statements of Interest can be submitted by individuals or groups within the community on an open basis.  Preference may be given to groups extending to two or more institutions and/or states.  After a vetting process and final approval by NIFA, workgroups selected typically begin their projects in September the following year (9/14 in this case).

Chris Weeks
Michigan State University
Aquaculture Extension Specialist, North Central Region
Phone: 517-353-2298
E-mail: weekschr@msu.edu
Websites: RAES website    NCRAC Roadmap   NCR Regulations