NO PLACE FOR INVASIVE SPECIES

Here's what Stuart F. Gruskin of The Nature Conservancy in New York, has to say about a recently enacted state law aimed at further combating the spread of aquatic invasive species througout the Finger Lakes and all of our waterways, "This (new law) will reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species that harm human, economic and environmental health. Each year, invasive species cost our communities millions of dollars. By taking simple and common sense measures to clean, drain and dry our boats we can reduce the spread of these harmful species and protect our fishing, tourism and other water-dependent industries."

The new law, which I sponsored this year in the Senate, will simply require boaters to take reasonable precautions when launching their boats.  It directs the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to develop rules for boaters to take actions such as removing all visible plants and animals from their boats -- or washing, draining and drying both motorized and non-motorized watercraft and related gear -- when entering and leaving a launch site. 

Individual boaters are the front line of defense against the spread of invasive species, and this new initiative offers a straightforward approach asking all boaters to do our part to help protect waterways, regional tourism economies and local jobs.

Similar efforts are being undertaken across the country and major outdoor outfitters such as Cabela’s and Bass Pro are helping educate boaters on clean, drain and dry procedures to prevent the spread of invasive species from one body of water to another. 

Some estimates have pegged the annual cost of invasive species to the national economy at $120 billion a year.

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