More than 180 invasive species are destroying the
food chain, municipal and industrial infrastructure
and the biological balance of the lakes. The cost of
addressing damage from existing invasive species
is estimated to be as much as $5 billion a year.20 A
least 65 per cent of aquatic invasive species – including
the zebra mussel, round goby and the spiny
water flea – have been brought in by ocean-vessels.
21 A range of actions must be taken to address
this threat including:
- Make an immediate federal and provincial
financial commitment, together with U.S. governments,
to prevent the spread of Asian Carp.
- Amend the GLWQA so it becomes an additional
mechanism for halting the import and spread
of aquatic invasive species.
- Establish stricter federal regulations under the
Shipping Act, to deal with Ocean-going vessel
ballast water and sediment discharge from “no
ballast on board” (NoBOB) ships, and apply
federal pressure to U.S. state and federal governments
for similar changes.
- Improve coordination and information sharing between the
Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources to ensure that a comprehensive approach
is being taken to protect the lakes against aquatic invasive species.
- Ontario must continue to press for federal leadership, but meanwhile, the province must initiate and reach agreement
with Quebec and U.S. Great Lakes states on a standard for ballast water (ship) discharge and biological pollution, with
the goal of preventing any inter-lake transport or introduction of non-native aquatic species by ocean-going or interlake
vessels.
- Research Seaway trans-shipment and alternative freight options.
References
[20] Taylor, J. & J. Roach. (2005). Ocean Shipping In the Great Lakes: Transportation Cost Increases That Would Result From A Cessation
of Ocean Vessel Shipping. Seidman College of Business - Logistics Research. Available at: www.gvsu.edu/business/index.cfm.
[21] Ricciardi, Anthony. (2006). Patterns of Invasion in the Laurentian Great Lakes in relation to changes in vector activity. Diversity and
Distributions 12, pp.425-433.
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