According to researchers at Cornell University, the control of and damages from alien invasive species in the U.S. amounts to almost $120 billion per year.
The researchers go on to conclude, "The true challenge lies not in determining the precise costs of the impacts of exotic species, but in preventing further damage to natural and managed ecosystems. Formulation of sound prevention policies needs to take into account the means through which alien species gain access to and become established in the United States."
While aquatic invaders can arrive through many pathways, ballast water has been identified by researchers as one of the major sources of alien plants, animals, and bacteria in U.S. waters. Any of these species has the potential to become an invader.
In addition to national and international efforts to provide guidance and regulations for minimizing and preventing introductions from ballast, the State of California passed legislation in 1999, and again in 2003, making it the first to require ships to exchange ballast water at sea to minimize the possibility of transporting invasive species.
In the cover story of this edition of Coastal Services, we will examine
California's Marine Invasive Species Program, exploring both
its strengths and weaknesses.
In every edition of Coastal Services, we highlight information about coastal
resource management issues and successful management programs as a way to
help coastal managers communicate with and learn from each other. The magazine
provides profiles of programs that the coastal management community can
use to educate its agencies and constituents.
To serve you better, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Services Center is undergoing a formal evaluation of Coastal Services and its sister publication, Coastal Connections.
As part of this evaluation, reviewers will be contacting subscribers to
find out how our publications can better meet your needs. We would appreciate
your cooperation in this effort. Your responses will help make sure Coastal
Services and Coastal Connections contain the information you want to read.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
