Fighting invaders from the deep

Five ways to prevent invasive species from jumping into Arkansas waters

Arkansas Wildlife Editor LITTLE ROCK — Giant threats to Arkansas’s fish and water are lurking under the surface somewhere right now. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission needs boaters’ help in stopping these terrors before they spread any further.

Non-native invasive plants, animals and other creatures may seem like small problems at first, but together, they account for more than $120 billion (with a “B”) in damage to the U.S. annually. Blocking access to recreation, such as fishing and boating, is only one way these aquatic nuisance species cost Americans money. They impact public utilities, tourism, aquaculture and agriculture as well. No one wants to see their

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favorite lake overtaken with a green mat of impenetrable weeds, but it has happened in some states, and some of the worst culprits are already here.

Matt Horton, the AGFC’s Aquatic Nuisance Species program coordinator, says 36 aquatic nuisance species have been documented in Arkansas, including plants, fish, mussels and other types of organisms. Some of the more well known species include giant salvinia, silver carp, northern snakeheads and zebra mussels, but these are just a few of the species that can pose significant ecological and economic harm, as well as a risk to human health.

“Louisiana spends well over $1 million per year fighting giant salvinia, a plant that has been found recently in Arkansas,” Horton said. “Millions more are spent on other aquatic invaders. That money is being taken away from habitat management, stocking and improving fisheries for anglers. The AGFC has already shut down one of our hatchery facilities because the lake surrounding it became infested with zebra mussels, so it’s already impacting Arkansas anglers.”

Just like when fighting a virus, Horton says the best plan of attack is to prevent it from spreading to new areas. Here are some ways everyone can fight aquatic nuisance species in Arkansas to keep our waters healthy and accessible for angling and boating