Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Native Species Restoration: Technical and Regulatory Challenges

The use of piscicides rotenone and antimycin as tools in integrated pest management for aquatic invasive species control and native fish restoration efforts has become established worldwide, but technical and regulatory challenges affect the successful completion of many projects.   This AFS Fish Management Chemicals Subcommittee-sponsored full day symposium will facilitate the sharing of information among government agencies and conservation groups and produce a better understanding of the technical and regulatory challenges facing projects utilizing piscicides.   Recent reregistration of the piscicides have placed new standardized operating procedures on the their use and pending regulatory requirements for wastewater discharge permits will affect how and under what circumstances projects are implemented.  The success of these projects are affected as their size and scope increase over time, and environmental protection directives can have counterproductive effects through time-consuming, compliance-based legal challenges.  Other issues continue to affect the safe and effective use of piscicides including training and guidance for applicators, minimizing pesticide discharges, public opinion of fish control projects, and concerns about human and environmental safety.   A thirty-minute facilitated panel discussion that follows the individual presentations will develop a list of successful strategies that move projects forward.  The symposium will provide for the refinement of the long-term strategy for the use of chemicals in fish management.