Managing Coastal Aquatic Invasive Species In California

Fouling occurs when marine microbes, plants, and animals, and/or their spores and larvae attach and grow on the hull of a boat or ship. If they survive the trip to a distant harbor, they may spawn, release spores, or be removed and discarded there. If they succeed in the new area, they may create problems.

This plan proposes management actions for addressing aquatic invasive species (AIS) threats to the State of California. It focuses on the non-native algae, crabs, clams, fish, plants and other species that continue to invade California's creeks, wetlands, rivers, bays and coastal waters. State surveys indicate that at least 607 species of aquatic invaders can be found in California's estuarine waters. These invaders cause major impacts: disrupting agriculture, shipping, water delivery, recreational and commercial fishing; undermining levees, docks and environmental restoration activities; impeding navigation and enjoyment of the state's waterways; and damaging native habitats and the species that depend on them. As the ease of transporting organisms across the Americas and around the globe has increased, so has the rate of AIS introductions.