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
• Great Lakes Panel Guidance for Operations
• Great Lakes Panel Committees
• Great Lakes Panel Membership
• Great Lakes Panel Meetings
• Great Lakes Panel Publications
• Great Lakes Panel Recommendations Submitted to the ANS Task Force
• Great Lakes Panel Annual Reports
• Great Lakes Panel Wiki

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.

• 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.

• Great Lakes Panel Comments on the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, submitted to U.S. EPA August 19, 2009 (based on Committee Priorities Documents)
• Information/Education & Research Grant-making Priorities (2007)

Information and Education Committee

• AIS Information and Education Priorities for the Great Lakes (2005)

Research Coordination Committee

• AIS Research Priorities for the Great Lakes (2009)
• Prohibited Species in the Great Lakes Region (2008)
• Great Lakes Priority Invasive Species List (2005)

Policy Coordination Committee

• Committee Mission, Goals and Objectives (2007)

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.
  • Final Agenda
  • Draft Action Items (PDF 12/15/2011)
  • GLP Members: Submit your updates for the meeting here!

• 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.
  • Final Agenda
  • Action Items (Draft: 06/02/2011)
  • Draft Meeting Summary (Draft: 10/04/2011)
  • Panel Member Updates

• 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.
  • Final Agenda with presentations
  • Action Items
  • Meeting Summary
  • Panel Member Updates

• 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.
  • Final Agenda
  • Action Items
  • Final Meeting Summary with presentations
  • Panel Member Updates

• Great Lakes Panel Meeting (December 2009): The fall meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held in Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Final Agenda
  • Action Items
  • Meeting Summary
  • Panel Member Updates

• Great Lakes Panel Meeting (June 2009): The spring 2009 meeting of the Great Lakes Panel was held in Grand Island, New York.
  • Final Agenda with Presentations (PDF 07/23/09)
  • Action Items (PDF 08/10/09)
  • Meeting Summary (PDF)
  • Memo: Meeting Agenda & Logistics (PDF 05/05/09)
  • Memo: Final Draft Agenda & Remote Participation (PDF 06/10/09)

• Great Lakes Panel Meeting Archive

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