CRMC conducting survey for aquatic invasive species

August 6, 2013, WAKEFIELD – A team of marine scientists and Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) staff will be conducting an aquatic invasive species rapid assessment survey all over the state this week, looking under docks and piers and scouring the coast on Wednesday, August 7 and Friday, August 9.

The monitoring will take place tomorrow at Port Edgewood Marina in Cranston, Allen Harbor Marina in North Kingstown, and Point Judith Marina in South Kingstown. On Friday, the research team will be at Fort Adams State Park boat basin in Newport. The monitoring has been coordinated by the CRMC, which adopted its RI Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan (RIAIS Plan) in January 2008.

The survey in Rhode Island is part of a larger effort to investigate the coastline from Maine down to Rhode Island for the presence and spread of marine aquatic invasive species. The following is the field sampling schedule for the rapid assessment survey:

August 7:

• Point Judith Marina, South Kingstown – 8:45 a.m.
• Allen Harbor Marina, North Kingstown – 10:50 a.m.
• Port Edgewood Marina, Cranston – 2 p.m.

August 9:

• For Adams State Park boat basin, Newport – 2 p.m.

The RIAIS Plan is the first comprehensive effort to assess the impacts and threats of aquatic invasive species in Rhode Island. Developed and implemented on the state level by the CRMC, it prioritizes state agency leadership for action including, monitoring coastal and freshwater resources, contributing to a regional database on the presence and distribution of AIS, developing various education initiatives, preventing AIS introductions, controlling their spread and where possible, eradicating particularly harmful organisms.

Invasive species – defined as a non-indigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on these waters – are considered to be second only to direct habitat destruction as a cause of declining biodiversity in the U.S. Species that have invaded Rhode Island waters include the European green crab, Asian shore crab, lace bryozoan, Codium fragile, a green algae, the red macroalgae Grateloupia turuturu, various colonial and solitary sea squirts, and several shellfish pathogens. Other invasive species of concern (due to their proximity to Rhode Island and/or those with a high potential for environmental and economic damage) include the following:

• Veined Rapa whelk
• Chinese Mitten crab
• Suminoe oyster
• Pacific oyster
• Caulerpa sp.
• Japanese kelp

For more information on the volunteer initiative, contact Jan Smith, coastal habitat and water quality manager with Massachusetts CZM at (617) 877-0788.

The CRMC is conducting the survey with the assistance of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management; the Rhode Island Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Coordination Team; the Casco Bay Estuary Program; the Piscataqua River Estuary Partnership; the Massachusetts Bays Program; and the Buzzards Bays Program.