GLIN==> IL-IN Sea Grant News: Invasive Species Program Wins Coastal America Partnership Award

[Irene Miles <miles@uiuc.edu>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
November 17, 2006
Source: Robin Goettel (217) 333-9448; goettel@uiuc.edu
 

Invasive Species Program Wins Coastal America Partnership
Award
 
URBANA - Aquatic Invaders, an entertaining, educational
program that demonstrates simple steps to prevent the spread of invasive
species, was honored by Coastal America during a recent national meeting
of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The project is a
partnership between the Sea Grant network and AZA.
 
"Through this outstanding team effort, nearly 140 million people
annually may learn how to protect our environment from aquatic invasive
species, which cost our nation nearly $138 billion per year to control,?
said Timothy R.E. Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and
Atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce, who presented the 2006 Coastal
America Partnership Award to the Aquatic Invaders Toolkit Team. He
presented the award on behalf of President George W. Bush and the 12
federal agencies of the Coastal America Partnership. 
 
The introduction and spread of non-native species in waterways
contributes to a costly ecosystem imbalance, often destroying populations
of native species. In the Great Lakes region, common invasives include
zebra mussels, round gobies, and in wetland areas, purple loosestrife.
 
Aquatic Invaders is a 20-minute program designed for use at zoos
and aquariums around the country to arm audiences with knowledge that
helps them avoid contributing to the spread of invasive species.
"The presentation is highly interactive," said Robin Goettel,
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) associate director for education.
"For example, through the game of musical chairs, participants
roleplay as invaders and native species while learning how invasives
displace native species and how people can play an integral role in the
process." 
 
Goettel provided content for the Aquatic Invaders project based on
IISG's Nab the ?Aquatic Invader!?  Web site
(www.sgnis.org/kids).
She also served as a program reviewer and is a member of the advisory
committee. 
 
The partnership awards and a letter from the president were
presented to the lead agencies on the project: North Carolina Aquariums,
North Carolina Sea Grant, AZA, Georgia Sea Grant and the University of
Georgia Marine Extension Service. The project team also drew upon
expertise of two dozen representatives of the Sea Grant and AZA networks
and partner agencies. Aquatic Invaders is funded by a grant from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration?s National Sea Grant
College Program. 
 
The Coastal America Partnership was established in 1992 to protect,
preserve and restore coastal watersheds by integrating federal actions
with state and local government and non-governmental efforts. Federal
partners include the Departments of Agriculture, Air Force, Army,
Commerce, Defense, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Navy,
State and Transportation, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Executive Office of the President. To recognize outstanding
partnership efforts, Coastal America established a national awards
program in 1997.

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The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of more than 30
National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea
Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to
address coastal and Great Lakes needs.  Funding is provided by the
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U. S. Department of
Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue
University at West Lafayette, Indiana.

Irene Miles
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
376 NSRC
1101 W. Peabody Dr.
Urbana, Il 61801
(217) 333-8055
FAX (217) 333-8046