Project Summary

1. Project ID
Name	Seed Grants for Education and Outreach Projects in Aquatic Nuisance Species
Region	Gulf of Mexico Region
State	Gulf-wide
Location
Date of this update	9/1/00

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)
Habitat Restoration/Protection
Wetlands
River systems
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other: Aquatic Nuisance Species

3. Project description (100 words or less)

The Gulf of Mexico and its estuaries are very vulnerable to invasions by nuisance aquatic species because: (1) the Gulf contains major ports known for frequent ballast exchange by vessels from foreign waters, and the region is the recipient of infested waters from the Mississippi Drainage Basin; (2) it is linked by a network of natural and man-made waterways, rivers, and streams; and (3) it has a climate that has proven to support survival and rapid growth of non-indigenous plants and animals. As a result, the state of Florida contains more aquatic nuisance species than any other state.

Some segments of the public are involved in mitigation and control of a few species, especially zebra mussels, but the Gulf states as a whole have done little public outreach to promote the understanding of the concept of managing nuisance species on a consistent, cooperative basis. Additional education and extension efforts are needed with the public in order for people to see that some species are not a one-time pest but part of a continuing management situation.

Both the EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program (GOMP) and NOAA's Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) have identified the threat of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) as a priority area of their activities for the northern Gulf of Mexico region. MASGC currently supports extension efforts in ANS in zebra mussels by both its Alabama and Mississippi Sea Grant Advisory Services in Mobile, AL and Biloxi, MS. However, MASGC desires to expand public education and outreach efforts in this vital area that would include a more proactive approach to educating the public on the potential adverse impacts of new marine bioinvasions in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Summary of the Joint MASGC-GOMP Initiative

• Programmatic focus is public education, outreach and extension projects in aquatic nuisance species,
• Geographic focus is Mississippi Sound in Alabama and Mississippi, and Mobile Bay, Alabama,
• Program administration is led by MASGC with GOMP staff involved in the final award decisions by the Technical Review Panel,
• Total funds available for this award will be $200,000,
• Five (5) one to three year projects with a maximum federal budget request of $40,000 will be funded,
• Final reports will be circulated to GOMP, NOAA-Sea Grant, and MASGC.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

Cash

Federal

Non Federal

State government
Local government
Private industry
Public interest groups

Total


In-Kind Services (hours, equipment, or other forms of assistance and estimated dollar value)

Volunteers (number of people and hours, and estimated dollar value)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

9. Project Status

• Initiation date:
• Completion date:
• Current stage: (Initiated - I, Underway - U or Completed - C)

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments