Harmonization of species regulations

Photo: Whitewood Lake in Michigan ©Doug Lemke

GOAL: Prevent the introduction of new aquatic invasive species / METRIC: Harmonization of species regulations

What we track

Effective regional management of aquatic invasive species requires that species are consistently regulated across federal, provincial and state governments. Regulated species lists identify plants and animals for which certain activities are illegal in a jurisdiction – e.g., importation, sale or possession. Inconsistencies in these lists create legal gaps that can lead to an invasive species being released into the Great Lakes basin.

Blue Accounting is tracking regional consistency in restrictions against the list of Least Wanted AIS developed by the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, as well as against species regulated at a federal level in Canada (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) and the U.S. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Department of Agriculture). This data is paired with information on the activities that each jurisdiction regulates for these species, largely based on the analysis of Davidson et al. (2021).

Why it matters

Species regulations are the foundation of effective AIS prevention programs. These policies regulate the import, sale, transportation, possession, and release of invasive species and create the legal framework for work implemented by state/provincial agencies. Regulatory consistency between jurisdictions creates a level playing field for industry and consumers and helps proactively ensure that harmful species used as bait, in water gardens, in aquariums, or for other purposes will not be released into the Great Lakes basin.


Source:
AIS Work Group

Prevention: Harmonization of Species Regulations

The lists of species represented below include the 21 "Least Wanted" AIS from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers and species regulated at a federal level in the United States and Canada. To show how protective these regulated species lists are, we have paired this data with information on the activities that each jurisdiction regulates for these species.

 


Source:
AIS Work Group






Click on one of the below accordions to explore regional consistency for species regulations.

  • Species - Learn more about the species in this metric, including scientific name, which jurisdictions regulate them, and risk assessment information.
  • Compare Jurisdictions - Select two jurisdictions to compare regulations governing the species in this metric.
  • Regulated Activities - Learn more about the specific activities related to invasive species that are regulated by jurisdictions.


Source:
AIS Work Group