Restoration

Restoration Legislative Priorities:

Ballast Water Permits

In less than one generation, aquatic invasive species have radically changed our Great Lakes’ ecosystem. Every eight months a new invasive species enters our lakes primarily through the discharge of ballast water. Zebra mussels, round gobies, spiny water fleas, and sea lamprey are invasives that are wreaking havoc on our lakes. Frustrated with the lack of action on the federal level, the Michigan legislature created the first ballast water permit requirement in the nation. PA 32 and 33 of 2005 prohibit ocean-going vessels from discharging ballast water into Michigan’s waters (including the Great Lakes) after January 1, 2007, unless they have a permit issued by the DEQ. This requirement was set after years of study and deliberation. The DEQ has now issued the final general permit, which gives ocean-going vessels the option of installing four commercially available technologies, or choosing to install alternative technologies that have equivalent effectiveness. According to the shipping industry’s own information, this permit will just apply to four ships currently operating in the Great Lakes, one of which already has treatment technology on board. The shipping industry has now sued the state attempting to stop the implementation of the law

Action: Ensure Michigan remains the leader on this issue by keeping the 2007 date for ballast water permits in place. Contact the legislatures of other Great Lakes states and urge them to enact similar legislation.

Organisms in Trade

The category “organisms in trade” means aquaculture, bait fish, ornamental fish trade, and aquarium and zoo trade. All of these trade routes could be possible vectors for the introduction of new invasive species. Currently, a voluntary program exists called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Planning (HAACP) for Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS), adapted by the Michigan Sea Grant. HAACP helps in understanding the pathways being used to transport live organisms and helps to develop plans to prevent contamination by any unwanted organisms or pathogens. The program helps focus attention on critical control points where ANS could be removed if they manage to infiltrate the system. This is a proactive approach to help keep new invasives species and diseases out of the Great Lakes that may enter through the organisms in trade pathway and this program is already being used in Michigan by some of the larger aquaculture and retail bait facilities.

Action: Requiring that HAACP planning and training be done for all retail trade of live organisms to help ensure that Michigan’s trade of live organisms is not a vector for invasive species introduction.

Restoration Policy Priorities:

Restoring the Great Lakes

Our membership has made it clear through years of resolutions that restoring the Great Lakes is a priority. Resolutions created and passed by our membership have urged a ban on phosphates because of their impact on the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. In 1984, MUCC passed a resolution to encourage farming practices that prevent non-point source pollution. Resolutions passed in 1970 and in 2005 addressed the issue of mercury deposition into the Great Lakes. Over 30 years of resolutions direct the organization to be involved in the treatment of our sewage. Also, in 1992 MUCC began to seek treatment of ballast water in ships entering the St. Lawrence Seaway. MUCC’s resolutions have directed the organization to take a leadership role in Michigan’s campaign to restore the Great Lakes. Leading a coalition of like-minded organizations, we are working to inform Michigan citizens about the issues facing the Great Lakes and solutions to those problems. We are currently preparing an analysis of Michigan’s efforts to address such problems as invasive species, Great Lakes fishery degradation, wetlands protection and non-point source pollution. We have actively been working with our Congressional delegation on implementing the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration which calls for $20 billion of new federal funding to restore the Great Lakes. MUCC members have met with state and national elected officials to relay their concerns about the Great Lakes. MUCC will continue these efforts into 2007 and beyond.

Cormorant control

The effect of the double-crested cormorant on the Great Lakes fisheries is a critical concern for all of MUCC’s members. Without a healthy and sustainable fishery in the Great Lakes, Michigan is sure to encounter even greater challenges to its economy than we are already facing. The ecology of the Great Lakes is changing due to influx of invasive species, nutrient loadings, wetlands destruction and other threats. MUCC cannot afford another threat to our fishery and we can do something about the double-crested cormorant. Cormorants must be actively controlled in Michigan. MUCC’s Board of Directors voted unanimously in both 2005 and 2006 to authorize staff to work toward securing increased federal and state dollars for cormorant control in the state. Increased dollars were secured both years and MUCC will continue to work to achieving even greater funding in 2007 and 2008 to ensure that the cormorant control program can be expanded to more of Michigan’s waters.