Taking Action

Cooperation and collaboration at provincial, federal and international levels are required to adequately address the prevention and control of invasive species. MNR works with agencies and organizations at all levels to coordinate and implement public awareness initiatives, monitoring, research, and control programs. MNR also develops policy and regulations to protect Ontario’s biodiversity from threats of invasive species.

Find out some simple action you can take to help. Call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or visit www.invadingspecies.com to learn more about: 

• the Invading Species Awareness Program
• aquatic invasive species (fish, fish parasites, invertebrates, plants)
• how you can help prevent their introduction and spread
• volunteer monitoring programs
• reporting sightings of aquatic invasive species
• control projects
• obtaining access to free information (brochures, fact sheets, posters, etc.)

Monitoring

Detecting the introduction and monitoring the spread of non-native species in Ontario’s waters is important information that we need to be able to reduce their impacts. Through the Invading Species Awareness Program, a database of aquatic invasive species sightings across the province is maintained. Anyone can submit a sighting and obtain information through the Invading Species Hotline or website.

MNR is working with partners to expand this database by developing a web-accessible geographic information system (GIS) database with a mapping option. Verified sightings can be displayed and used by groups and organizations.

The expansion of the database will help in the production of current distribution maps to illustrate the dispersal trends for some key species in Ontario. The database and maps will support decision-making in managing aquatic invasive species. Information collected in Ontario also contributes to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support their efforts to track invasive species.

You and your organization are encouraged to help monitor and detect aquatic invasive species by reporting sightings directly to the Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or at www.invadingspecies.com. Of particular interest are those sightings beyond the known distribution for any invasive species.

Through the Invading Species Awareness Program, you can also  join Invading Species Watch and Fanwort Find,  unique opportunities that involve volunteers in monitoring lakes for aquatic invasive species, such as the spiny water flea, zebra mussels and fanwort. Simple and effective sampling guidelines are available for public use. It is a cost-effective, broad method to detect new introductions and to monitor the spread of invasive species. It provides cottagers and other lake users with an early warning system for new invaders.

Steps are being taken to coordinate these monitoring efforts across the province. We hope to engage agencies, non-government groups, universities and volunteers to contribute important information along with local MNR offices to support monitoring research to improve standards.

Research

Multi-disciplinary research helps with the investigation of the biology and the impacts of invasive species in aquatic ecosystems. MNR supports a variety of research projects to help guide aquatic invasive species management and regulatory actions. The University of Windsor, York University, Trent University, University of Guelph, University of Toronto, Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund, and the Fisheries Research Unit at OFAH have all conducted research on aquatic invasive species.

Control

There are three main control methods used for invasive species management. They include physical, chemical and biological techniques.

Physical control involves barriers to the movement of aquatic invasive species through dredging, dams, traps, electrical fields, mechanical harvesters or manual removals to eliminate invasive species from their new habitat.

The sea lamprey caused devastation to the Great Lakes fishery in the mid-1900’s. As a result, a comprehensive, bi-national control program was coordinated by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Chemical control involves applying chemicals that are toxic to the invasive species.

In the fall of 2005, an experimental round goby eradication project  was undertaken in the Pefferlaw Brook, a tributary of Lake Simcoe. The project attempted to eradicate round goby before they entered Lake Simcoe. MNR worked with many partners and the community to treat the area where gobies were present with a piscicide (a chemical that is selectively toxic to a particular species of fish). Preliminary assessment indicates: 

• no piscicide entered ground water or wells
• within 2 days of treatment, the piscicide was not detectable in the brook
• the piscicide killed round goby
• the native fish and benthic (bottom-dwelling organisms) communities are returning to pre-treatment levels.
   

Biological control requires the introduction of another living organism (or control agent) to reduce or remove the population of the invasive species through means such as predation or disease. This control agent is usually found in the natural range of the invasive species. A thorough approval process is undertaken before any species is used for biological control.

Two beetles (Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla) are used as control agents to successfully manage purple loosestrife, an invasive wetland plant in Ontario. The beetles do not completely eradicate purple loosestrife but they do control plant density to help reduce impacts to native species. Learn more about the  Ontario purple loosestrife biological control program.

Policy & Regulation

Policies set out guidelines and priorities to address aquatic invasive species management in Ontario. MNR has authority to develop and enforce regulations through the following legislation:

• the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act
• the Ontario Fishery Regulations (under federal Fisheries Act)
   

Some of the policies and strategies to deal aquatic invasive species include:

• Ontario's Biodiversity Strategy
• Canadian Biodiversity Strategy
• Canada Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem
• Our Sustainable Future (MNR) (PDF)
• Risk assessments of potential invaders and pathways
• Aquaculture Policy
• Fish Stocking Policy
   

The Ontario Biodiversity Strategy (2005) provides direction to deal with invasive species.  The strategy was developed and is being implemented jointly by government and non-government groups for the benefit of all Ontarians.

MNR has worked with the federal government and other provinces and territories to develop on An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada, a strategy to address the threat of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species. The province of Ontario also participates in a number of bi-national working groups including the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.

MNR has also actively sought the support of the federal government to strengthen legislation and develop effective means of treating ballast water. You can learn more by reading the Ballast Water Control and Management Regulations.

A note on terrestrial invasive species

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the regulatory agency that protects Canada's wild and cultured plants from invasive plants and plant pests, as part of the broader national Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada. MNR's Forest Health Section works with the CFIA to protect the health of Ontario's forest from invasive alien insects.