New Resource to Help Increase Awareness About Better Managing Aquatic Nuisance Species

In 2003, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies received a Multistate Conservation Grant to support a comprehensive, three-year project.  The project addressed a national conservation need to increase effectiveness of state agency efforts to manage aquatic nuisance species (ANS).

The Association partnered with all four regional associations, four state agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and numerous private partners to pilot test communication strategies.  The project was just completed in March 2006. 

Some really cool and agency-tested tools are now available from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the USFWS Protect Your Waters website to help your agency solve problems we all face related to aquatic nuisance species.

This interactive PDF file provides a wealth of information about ANS communications strategies and how to address ANS regulation and enforcement issues. It represents the best thinking in the country on communicating about ANS issues. 

Go to www.protectyourwaters.net/resources/iafwa-ans-comm-pilot.pdf to learn how to download and use this valuable resource.

The web resource provides:

1. Recommendations from four pilot states and regions about how to tackle communications strategies and ANS challenges.

2. Resources , including final reports and communications strategies from Arizona , Missouri , New Hampshire and South Carolina .

3. Ability to network with lists of leaders who have participated in pilot projects.

4. Clear website navigation and downloadable documents .

The results of this project can help your agency communicate more effectively about critical ANS issues. I hope you will encourage everyone in your agency who deals with ANS issues (and your partners outside the agency as well!) to make use of this excellent resource.