Great Lakes coastal resource managers and scientists are addressing a new aquatic invasive species—VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia—a disease that causes fish to bleed to death internally, causing high mortality and severe economic consequences.
This is just one of the latest in a series of invasive fish, plants, pollutants, parasites, and viruses that has been introduced into our nation's coastal waters through ballast water or some other avenue.
With the threat of VHS at their door—and the specter of the next invader's potential environmental and economic consequences—it is understandable that Michigan officials have grown impatient for a solution.
The cover story for this edition of Coastal Services focuses on a new Michigan law that pushes that state's authority in managing ballast water from oceangoing ships.
While observers question how long the law will hold and note the pending release of new Coast Guard performance standards for the quality of discharged ballast water, the state's ultimate goal of bringing attention to an important national—and international—issue has been achieved.
Other articles in this edition cover efforts to address derelict and sunken vessels in Georgia, a Maryland Web portal focused on coastal hazards, and Puerto Rico's coordinated program to protect more than 100,000 acres over the next 10 years.
No matter the issue you are addressing—invasive species, coastal hazards, ecosystem-based management, habitat restoration, or climate change—you will find the best and latest solutions to these issues and more at Coastal Zone 07 (CZ07).
This biennial conference, being held from July 22 to 26 in Portland, Oregon, is the largest and most diverse international gathering of ocean and coastal management professionals in the world.
According to customer surveys conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal Services Center, coastal managers highly value getting information directly from their colleagues.
With nearly 1,000 people attending and a focus on integrated coastal and ocean management, there will be no better time or place than CZ07 to network with those who are engaged in the critical work of creating local coastal solutions.
I hope to see you there.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
