Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop Howard Johnson Dutch Inn Cornwall, PEI April 11, 2006 Final Report ACRDP Workshop No. F4758-060001 Prepared for Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program Rapporteur Bob Thompson, Consultant 8Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2006 This is report MG-06-01-007 for the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program Table of Contents ii Page No. Background ....................................................................................................................................1 Sponsors and Supporters .............................................................................................................1 Presentations ..................................................................................................................................2 Guest Speakers...............................................................................................................................2 1.0 Introduction and Welcome, Jean MacDonald ................................................................3 2.0 Status Report, PEI=s Solitary and Colonial Tunicates, Neil MacNair ..........................3 3.0 Effluent Monitoring in PEI Processing Plants, Daniel Bourque...................................6 4.0 Monitoring the Spread of Invasive Tunicates on PEI, Jeff Davidson...........................7 5.0 MSX Update for the Maritimes, Mary Stephenson........................................................8 6.0 The Oyster Drill - An Overview, Matt Smith..................................................................9 7.0 Rock Crab and Mussel Aquaculture Interaction, Marc Ouellette..............................10 8.0 The Vase Tunicate (Ciona) in Nova Scotia - The Current Situation, Stephanie Howes, Claire Carver, Peter Darnell...........................................................................................11 9.0 Post Mortem, Thomas Landry .......................................................................................14 10.0 Review of the 2005 Invasive Species Program, PEI Introductions and Transfers (I&T) Committee, I&T Terms of Reference, Tunicate Sub-committee Terms of Reference, Art Smith ..........................................................................................................................15 11.0 Rapid Response, Andrea Locke......................................................................................16 12.0 Atlantic Task Force /Atlantic Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (ACFAM) Task Group, Richard Gallant ......................................................................17 13.0 List of Appendices............................................................................................................19 13.1 Agenda, PEI Invasive Species Research and Management Review ...............20 13.2 List of Participants...............................................................................................22 13.3 Discussion Group Summary ...............................................................................25 13.4 Speakers Presentations .......................................................................................27 Disclaimer - This technical document was prepared as a result of work by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program, the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance. While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program, the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility of the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favouring by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program, the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance. Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop Proceedings iii Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop April 11, 2006 Background On April 11, 2006 the Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance, the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture and DFO=s Aquatic Invasive Species Program staff co-sponsored the Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop at the Howard Johnson Dutch Inn in Cornwall. The purpose of the workshop was to bring together mussel producers, processors, researchers and development experts with experience in dealing with invasive species. At least six known invasive species have established in Prince Edward Island since 1998. Four species of tunicates (clubbed Styela clava, vase Ciona intestinalis, violet Botrylloides violaceus, and golden star Botryllus schlosseri, green crab Carcinus maenus and oyster thief Codium fragile are having negative ecological and economical consequences, more specifically for the mussel aquaculture industry (farmers and processors) and the clam fishery. Currently the mussel industry is significantly impacted with respect to growing, harvesting and processing of product infested with invasive tunicate species. The workshop also focussed on a review of the Aquatic Invasive Species Program in 2005 and research and development priorities were identified in the afternoon session using a pre-determined list of questions that elicited valuable debate in the break-out discussion groups. The PEI Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop was held between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm, allowing each invited speaker sufficient time to present their knowledge and workshop participants ample opportunity to engage these researchers in thought provoking discussion and resolution of issues facing the industry. Three speakers from Nova Scotia who had considerable experience with Ciona intestinalis were invited to share their knowledge of this relatively recent newcomer to PEI waters. Participation at the workshop was encouraging with 54 individuals from the Maritimes, various aspects of the industry (growers, employees, processors, equipment suppliers), the research community and several levels of government participating in discussions. Sponsors and Supporters The workshop was financially supported by the Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and through the registration fees collected at the venue. An organizing committee for the workshop (ie. draft agenda, identification of topical research and development projects, contact guest speakers, etc.) was developed in December 2005 and comprised DFO (Art Smith, Invasive Species Coordinator), the PEI Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Neil MacNair, Aquaculture Biologist), and the PEI Aquaculture Alliance (Jean MacDonald, Executive Director) and Bob Thompson (Research and Environmental Management Coordinator). The Howard Johnson Dutch Inn, Cornwall provided the venue, audio equipment, health breaks and the noon luncheon. The Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance provided administrative services via the PEIAA newsletter, mail-outs, ACRDP Report No. MG-06-01-007 1 April 11, 2006 Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop telephone and staff for the registration desk. An in-kind donation of the visual services (ie. projection equipment and computer) was provided by the PEI Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Aquaculture. Neil MacNair (PEIDAFA) assisted the speakers by loading their presentations on a laptop computer. Bob Thompson was engaged by the PEIAA to facilitate the workshop and develop the proceedings in a final report. Presentations In April 2006, the Invasive Species Research and Management Strategy Workshop organizing committee posed the following questions to focus the workshop and sought appropriate invasive species researchers and individuals with front line experience in an effort to better understand AIS and the effects on shellfish aquaculture: < What is the status of AIS in Prince Edward Island? < What are we learning about AIS in PEI? < What are we doing about it? < Can we limit the spread of AIS? < What farm management strategies exist to manage or treat AIS? < What tools do we have to communicate AIS to industry stakeholders and the general public? < How have we done thus far? $ What worked in 2005? $ What didn=t work? $ What is industry=s role < What are the needs for 2006? < Monitoring? < Introductions and Transfers? < Research? < Development? < Communications? Guest Speakers Copies of each speaker=s presentation is appended to this report. The workshop organising committee acknowledges the participation of our guest speakers from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick who provided first hand knowledge and expertise in dealing with AIS. Special