Proceedings 2017/022

Proceedings of the national peer review of the National Risk Assessment of Recreational Boating as a Vector for Aquatic Invasive Species; December 8-11, 2015

Chairperson: Gilles Olivier
Editor: Lauren Ellis

Summary

These proceedings summarize the relevant presentations and discussions of the national science advisory meeting held on 8-11 December 2015 at the Marriott Chateau Champlain in Montreal, Quebec. The conclusions and advice resulting from this meeting will be provided in the form of a Science Advisory Report that will be made publicly available on the CSAS website. Meeting participants included experts from various sectors and regions of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as external participants from the University of Toronto, North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Nature Conservancy, the Smithsonian Institute, McGill University, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the National Aquatic Invasive Species Committee. Three working papers were distributed prior to the meeting in addition to a list of several reference documents. The purpose of this meeting was to collect and provide scientific advice on the risk that recreational boating, as a vector for the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), poses to Canadian fresh and marine waters. This topic was broken down into three distinct papers.

1. National Risk Assessment of Recreational Boating as a Vector for Marine Nonindigenous Species

This working paper used a variety of variables to estimate the relative risk of non-indigenous species (NIS) due to boating in different Canadian marine ecoregions. It characterized the movement patterns of recreational boats in marine waters within and between ecoregions and considered 3 variables in its calculation of risk: vessel characteristics/movements, environmental similarity, and NIS sources.

2. Ecological Risk Assessment of Recreational Boating as a Pathway for The Secondary Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in the Great Lakes Basin

A model-based assessment was conducted to estimate the ecological risk of recreational boating activity as a pathway for the secondary spread of AIS in the Great Lakes Basin. The model assessed the relative probabilities of AIS spread and establishment among different ports/marinas supporting boating activity. Furthermore, it calculated the potential difference in the rate of spread between AIS transported by recreational boating and natural drift.

3. Overland Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species Among Freshwater Ecosystems Due to Recreational Boating in Canada

A literature review was undertaken to summarize the risk of spreading AIS through the overland movements of recreational boats between freshwater ecosystems in Canada. Only primary literature from North America was considered in the review.  A model was developed to analyse the potential risk of an AIS introduction event in Canada and the effectiveness of the vector at spreading AIS.

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