Development of biosecurity measures for aquaculture facilities to protect against invasive mollusks

Invasive mollusks such as New Zealand mudsnails and quagga mussels are a threat to most western aquaculture facilities that produce fish for mitigation and supplementation, food production, or recreation use.   Invasive mollusks can flourish within facilities because of constant temperature and flow.  In addition, human activities surrounding aquaculture facilities are likely sources of transporting invasive mollusks.  Aquaculture managers must make decisions that accurately assess and reduce the risk of invasion.  We provide a framework and decision tree to evaluate and characterize risks at a facility, and provide measures that can be used to disinfect water sources, facilities, and transport systems.  In this process the manager assesses vectors, vehicles, and water sources likely to introduce or transport invasive mollusks.  Monitoring programs are essential tools to use in and surrounding facilities to determine the risk of invasion.  Various options can be used for mollusk removal including hydrocyclone filtration, chemical disinfectants such as Virkon Aquatic®, quaternary ammonium compounds, and chlorines.  Synthesis of the current methods and research results are imperative for facility managers to adequately assess and control mollusk infestations.