Science Advisory Report  2011/066

Science advice from the risk assessment for ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Great Lakes and freshwater St. Lawrence River

Summary

• Freshwater ports of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River (GLSLR) are utilized by international and domestic ships, resulting in potential for species transfers between connected ports via hull fouling and ballast water discharge vectors.
• Introduction of nonindigenous species (NIS) can potentially cause great ecological, social and economic harm to an area.
• This study ranks relative risk posed by ship-mediated introduction of NIS to GLSLR ports based on 2005-2007 shipping data and recent environmental data.
• Montréal, QC, Québec City, QC and Duluth-Superior, MN-WI are identified as GLSLR ports with the highest relative risk of environmental consequences due to introduction of NIS via hull fouling.
• Duluth-Superior, MN-WI is the GLSLR port with the highest relative risk of environmental consequences due to introduction of NIS via ballast water discharge while Québec City, QC and Montréal, QC are at an intermediate level of relative risk.
• Biological sampling of ship vectors should be conducted to further quantify/calibrate invasion risk with attention to species-specific and site-specific characteristics.
• Future research and/or monitoring activities in the GLSLR should be prioritized at the top ports identified as higher risk by this assessment.
• If shipping traffic patterns or climate conditions in the GLSLR change, a re-assessment may be required.

This Science Advisory Report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, national advisory meeting of March 1-2, 2011 on the Risk Assessment for ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Great Lakes and the Canadian Arctic. Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

Complete document (PDF, 204 KB)

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