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3. Interdiction
Federal government agencies in both the US and Canada monitor in-bound goods and products to North America as part of routine surveillance programs to prevent nonindigenous pest species arriving as hitchhikers. At present, no similar interdiction programs exist to evaluate risk posed by vessels entering the Great Lakes, other than mandatory ballast exchange for vessels carrying fresh or brackish water from outside the EEZ. Given that many of the AIS that have invaded the Great Lakes in recent years originate from Eurasia, an interdiction program based on risk assessment of potential invader organisms may prove useful. Genetic surveys play a useful role in identification of invasion pathways and ought to be expanded. Better protocols for inspection and testing compliance in support of sound enforcement need to be developed.
The implications of non-compliance can be severe. Not only can one negligent ship jeopardize an ecosystem and the interests of its users, undetected non-compliance can result in misdirected regulations that affect the responsible members of the shipping community.
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