Proceedings 2022/019
Proceedings of the Regional Advisory Meeting on the Sampling effort to detect Asian carps during response activities in the Great Lakes basin; January 13–15, 2021
Chairperson: Julia Colm
Editors: Tessa Brinklow and Adam Rego
Summary
Asian carps (Bighead Carp [Hypophthalmichthys nobilis], Silver Carp [H. molitrix], Grass Carp [Ctenopharyngodon idella], Black Carp [Mylopharyngodon piceus]) are a group of invasive species that are nearing the Great Lakes basin and are anticipated to pose significant ecological and socio-economic threats, should they arrive. Grass Carp has already arrived in lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Ontario. In response to these threats, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) developed the Asian Carp Program in 2012 that conducts early detection surveillance and implements a response plan following verified captures of Asian carps in Canadian waters. Science advice was requested by the Asian Carp Program to determine sampling effort required for the detection of Asian carps in the Great Lakes basin, as there is uncertainty regarding how much sampling is required to have confidence that additional fish would be detected if present.
A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Science Advisory Meeting took place virtually via Microsoft Teams/Teleconference from January 13–15, 2021. The objectives of the meeting were to determine the sampling effort (time, intensity, search area) required to successfully detect Asian carps should they be present. A working paper that established a framework to assess the effort required to successfully detect and locally remove Asian carps during response activities was presented for peer review.
All participants were required to complete a review of the working paper prior to the meeting. The main topics discussed during the meeting addressed the major comments and feedback received from the participant’s reviews. Major comments concerned the use of catchability values, the general modelling approach as well as specifics related to the schooling and informed sampling scenarios, incorporation of movement, and terminology related to eradication. There were no major changes to the methodology or framework of the models, as most concerns were addressed with terminology changes and additional clarifications in the text. This proceedings document summarizes the discussions during the meeting and the decisions made with regards to the Research Document and the Science Advisory Report. The conclusions and feedback from this meeting were used to develop a Science Advisory Report providing advice to Asian Carp Program strike teams, which can be applied to response efforts for targeting Asian carps and other aquatic invasive species.
The participants in this meeting included experts from various organizations including DFO Science and the Asian Carp Program, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Québec Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Michigan State University, McGill University, University of Toronto Scarborough, United States Geological Survey, and Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Science Advisory Report, supporting Research Document, and Proceedings will be published on the DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) website.
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