Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance
Species
The mission of the Great Lakes Panel is to coordinate the development of education, research and policy to prevent new aquatic invasive species from entering the Great Lakes basin and to control and mitigate those AIS populations already established.
Great
Lakes Panel Background
Since 1991, the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species
has worked to prevent and control the occurrence of aquatic nuisance
species (ANS) in the Great Lakes. This is an immense task, as more than 180
nonindigenous aquatic species have been introduced into
the Great Lakes since the 1800s. Once established, these species must
be managed and controlled, as they are virtually impossible to eradicate.
The Great Lakes Panel was officially convened
in late 1991 in response to section 1203 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic
Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-646) In establishing
the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, Congress recognized
that providing sound advice to the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force from experts in a
highly-impacted region could make a substantial contribution to the
collective management effort at both a regional and national level.
Effective prevention and control efforts in the Great Lakes continue
to be the first line of defense in slowing or preventing the spread
of ANS to other regions of the country.
The Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species
is directed to perform the following tasks:
- Identify Great Lakes priorities
- Assist / Make recommendations to a national Task Force on Aquatic
Nuisance Species (also established via P.L. 101-646)
- Coordinate exotic species program activities in the region
- Advise public and private interests on control efforts
- Submit an annual report to the task force describing prevention,
research and control activities in the Great Lakes Basin
Great
Lakes Panel Guidance for Operations
Download
the Operational Guidance document (PDF 12/11/09)
Great
Lakes Panel Committees
The Great Lakes Panel focuses its efforts in three broad areas –
Information/Education, Research Coordination, and Policy Coordination.
Each focus area is supported through a committee comprised of Great Lakes Panel members
with relevant interests and expertise. The Information/Education Committee
facilitates the coordination of ANS information/education (I/E) activities
conducted in the Great Lakes region; builds partnerships between the
various stakeholders involved in ANS I/E efforts; and promotes the development
and delivery of consistent messages regarding ANS prevention and control.
The Research Coordination Committee provides a forum for ongoing dialogue
and action among the parties who conduct, manage, sponsor or apply Great
Lakes-related ANS research; enhances inter-regional communication and
coordination of ANS research; and develops, maintains and disseminates
an ANS research inventory database and associated policy recommendations
regarding ANS research priorities. The Policy Coordination Committee
coordinates development and dissemination of Great Lakes Panel policy positions
on key ANS issues; exchanges information on critical ANS policy issues; promotes development and implementation of
state ANS management plans; and coordinates the Great Lakes Panel’s involvement
in regional policy-related initiatives addressing ANS prevention and control.
Information and Education Committee
Research Coordination Committee
Policy Coordination Committee
Great
Lakes Panel Membership
The Panel membership
is drawn from U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, the eight Great Lakes
states and the provinces of Ontario and Québec, regional agencies,
user groups, local communities, tribal authorities, commercial interests,
and the university/research community.
Great Lakes
Panel Leadership Positions
The Great Lakes Panel has several elected leadership positions which
include the Panel Chair, Vice Chair, and a Chair for each of the Panel’s
three committees (see below). Each elected individual serves a two year
term. The current Panel leadership is as follows:
Panel Chair
Phil Moy, University
of Wisconsin Sea Grant
Panel Vice
Chair
Luke Skinner, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Research
Coordination Committee Chair
Lindsay Chadderton,
The Nature Conservancy
Information/Education
Committee Chair
Doug Jensen,
Minnesota Sea Grant College Program
Policy Coordination
Committee Chair
Mike Murray,
National Wildlife Federaion
Great Lakes Panel At-Large
Members
Eight representatives are elected by the Panel to serve as at-large members
on the Panel for a four-year term. The purpose of at-large membership
is to help ensure representation from all stakeholders, allowing for
individuals to contribute to the mission of the Panel based on special
expertise, interest, or advisory capability regarding AIS issues and/or
priorities.
• Ted Batterson, North Central Regional Aquaculture Center
• Lindsay Chadderton, The Nature Conservancy – Great Lakes Program
• Cathie Cunningham Ballard, Formerly of the Michigan Coastal Management Program
• Doug Jensen, Minnesota Sea Grant College Program
• Craig Middlebrook, St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
• Michael Murray, National Wildlife Federation
• John D. Rothlisberger, USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region
Meetings of the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species
The Great Lakes Panel meets twice a year in locations around the Great Lakes basin. If you would like further information on Great Lakes Panel meetings please contact Kathe Glassner-Shwayder at shwayder@glc.org
- Great Lakes Panel Meeting (November 2011): The fall meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Meeting information is posted below.
- Great Lakes Panel Meeting (May 2011): The spring meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held at the Astor Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisc. Meeting information is posted below.
- Great Lakes Panel Meeting (December 2010): The fall meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held at the Courtyard Marriott in Ann Arbor, Mich. Meeting information is posted below.
- Great Lakes Panel Meeting (April 2010): The spring meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held at the Maumee Bay State Park in Ohio. Meeting information is posted below.
- Great Lakes Panel Meeting (December 2009): The fall meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held in Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Great Lakes Panel Meeting (June 2009): The spring 2009 meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held in Grand Island, New York.
Great Lakes Panel and Other ANS Related Publications
Click here to access a variety of publications produced by the Great Lakes Panel, as well as other ANS related publications of the Great Lakes Commission.
Recommendations Submitted to the National ANS Task Force
• Recommendation and Issue Brief on Organisms in Trade
submitted October 2011
Great Lakes Panel Recommendation and Issue Brief
• Recommendations for the Renegotiation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
submitted October 2010
Great Lakes Panel Recommendations
• Position Statement on Professional Responsibility for Reporting of Aquatic Invasive Species
submitted April 2010
Great Lakes Panel Statement
• Position Statement on Governance Issues Involving the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
submitted February 2010
Great Lakes Panel Statement
• Position Statement on a National Ballast Water Discharge Standard
approved December 2009 and submitted January 2010
Great Lakes Panel Statement
• Regional Panel Funding
submitted February 2009
Regional Panels Recommendation
• Ballast Water Regulation
resubmitted February 2009
Great Lakes Panel Recommendation
ANS Task Force Response
• Screening Tools for Aquatic Invasive Species
submitted July 2008
Great Lakes & Mississippi River Basin Panel Joint Recommendation
• Ballast Water Regulation
submitted February 2008
Great Lakes Panel Recommendation
• State Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plans
submitted November 2007
Great Lakes Panel Recommendation
• Population of the ANS Task Force Experts Database
submitted May 2007
Great Lakes Panel Recommendation
ANS Task Force Response
• Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal Aquatic Nuisance Disperal Barrier
submitted January 2007
Great Lakes Panel Recommendation
ANS Task Force Response
Great Lakes Commission recommendation to Congress, sent February 2007
Information and Education Committee Priorities
submitted March 2006
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