International Symposium on Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish
June 21-24, 2010
Doubletree Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn.
Agenda (Updated 6/18/10)- Information Flyer (Updated 5/19/10)
Registration (for attendees)- Registration (for speakers)
- Hotel Reservation
Keynote Speaker
Daniel Simberloff
Daniel Simberloff will be the keynote speaker and he will be talking at a dinner on day 2 of the symposium.
Purpose
This international symposium will address the potential of genetic biocontrol against established invasive finfish species and the risks associated with its use. The symposium will also consider the potential for control of invasive mussel species. Genetic biocontrol refers to release of genetically manipulated organisms designed to disrupt the survival or reproduction of a targeted invasive species.
Genetic biocontrol strategies have the capability to be more effective and targeted than current control methods, all of which have major flaws.
Turning genetic biocontrol methods into practical tools, however, requires identifying and successfully addressing obstacles and concerns.
The symposium will assemble over 100 scientists from fish genetics and biotechnology to risk assessment science and ecology, and professionals working in various facets of managing aquatic invasive species. The first day will address the status of genetic biocontrol technologies, including chromosome-based, gene-based, and other targeted methods. Day one will also address combining genetic biocontrol methods with other control methods (e.g., pheromone attractants and mechanical control) to improve control efficiencies; and stakeholder involvement in deliberating this emerging technology. The second day will address scientific risk assessment of these technologies. This will start with an overview of environmental risk assessment and then focus on early steps in risk assessment, including status of the science, research needs, and a methodology for stakeholder deliberation. The third day will address regulatory and economic contexts. Also, participants will meet in small groups to outline research agendas for technology development and for risk assessment. Finally, a subset of participants will meet to integrate break-out group ideas into more complete outlines for peer-reviewed synthesis papers.
Objectives
This symposium will bring together fisheries managers, industry representatives, and government regulators with experts in all facets of genetic biocontrol, in order to:
- review the status of genetic biocontrol technologies for aquatic invasive species (with a focus on finfish) and develop a research agenda for future development;
- consider current methodologies for environmental risk assessment and develop a roadmap for risk assessment of genetic biocontrol of aquatic invasive species;
- discuss stakeholder involvement in development and assessment of this technology;
- examine the regulatory context for genetic biocontrol of invasive fishes and mussels; and
- consider the economics of impacts of aquatic invasive species and of genetic biocontrol technologies.
Results
We will publish a peer-reviewed volume as a special issue of the journal Biological Invasions. This volume will include papers from individual presentations and multi-authored synthesis papers coming out of interactive sessions. We anticipate three synthesis papers:
- Genetic biocontrol technologies — research and development agenda to achieve aquatic conservation goals;
- Roadmap for environmental risk assessment and management of genetic biocontrol applications — synthesis of existing knowledge and prioritization of needs; and
- Regulatory and economic context affecting applications of genetic biocontrol technologies — synthesis of issues and needs.
Participants will also outline the next steps for future collaborations. The intent is to encourage more comprehensive and efficient, longer-term, or larger-scale projects than any single entity can now fund. Synthesis papers will provide decision support for future uses of genetic biocontrol.
Steering Committee
The symposium steering committee has representation from academic, government, and private sectors. The members are listed below along with their position and organizational affiliation.
- Anne Kapuscinski (Chair)
- Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of Sustainability Science, Dartmouth College and Former Sea Grant Extension Specialist in Biotechnology and Aquaculture, University of MInnesota
- Dan Ashe
- Science Advisor to the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Jim Barrett
- Manager of the Native Fish Strategy, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- Robert Clarkson
- Fishery Biologist, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Doug Duncan
- Fish Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2 (Southwest Region)
- Jeff Gunderson
- Director and Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Educator, Minnesota Sea Grant College Program
- Mike Hoff
- Regional Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 3 (Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region) and Representative from Mississippi River Basin Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species
- K. Bruce Jones
- Chief Scientist for Biology, U.S. Geological Survey
- Glen Knowles
- Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2 (Southwest Region)
- Weiming Li
- Professor of Fisheries and Wildlife and of Physiology, Michigan State University
- Marshall Meyers
- Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
- Leah Sharpe (Symposium Coordinator)
- PhD Candidate, Conservation Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota and National Science Foundation IGERT trainee in risk analysis of introduced species and genotypes
Format
This symposium will be interactive in order to maximize scientific exchange, build a shared understanding of the issues, and stimulate new collaborations. Sessions over four days alternate plenary presentations with smaller break out groups.
Presentation Topics
- Development of Genetic Biocontrol Technologies
- Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetic Biocontrol Applications
- Keynote Speaker - Daniel Simberloff
- Regulatory and Economic Contexts Affecting Technology Development and ERA
Development of Genetic Biocontrol Technologies
History of Genetic Biocontrol Agents in the Gila River Basin- Paul Barrett, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Use of Triploidy for Biocontrol of Invasive Species
- Tillmann Benfey, University of New Brunswick
- Trojan Y Chromosome Strategy for the Eradication of Invasive Fish
- John Teem, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Aquaculture
- History of Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish
- Ron Thresher, CSIRO Australia; Peter Grewe, CSIRO Australia
- Gene-based Techniques from Insect Pest Control
- Fred Gould, North Carolina State University
- Integrated Pest Management of Invasive Fish
- Peter Sorensen, University of Minnesota
Do not use any data or cite any information without the author's permission. Peter Sorensen soren003@umn.edu - Gene-based Biocide
- Ron Thresher, CSIRO Australia
- Public Perspectives on GMO Development
- Leah Sharpe, University of Minnesota
Environmental Risk Assessment of Genetic Biocontrol Applications
- Colorado River Basin and Their Invasives
- Paul Marsh, Marsh and Associates, LLC
- Laurentian Great Lakes and Their Invasives
- Jeff Gunderson, Minnesota Sea Grant
- Mississippi River Basin and Their Invasives
- Michael Hoff, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Murray-Darling Basin and Their Invasives
- Jim Barrett, Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- Ecological Risk Assessment Methodology-Major Steps
- Keith Hayes, CSIRO Australia
- Early Steps in Environmental Risk Assessment
- Anne Kapuscinski, Dartmouth College
- Problem Formulation and Options Assessment
- Kristen Nelson, University of Minnesota
Keynote Speaker - Daniel Simberloff - Winner of Eminent Ecologist Award from the Ecological Society of America
- New Methods Needed, But Will Natural Selection Kill the Trojan Fish?
- Daniel Simberloff, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Regulatory and Economic Contexts Affecting Technology Development and ERA
- Regulatory Framework for Genetic Biocontrol
- Stephanie Showalter, National Sea Grant Law Center
- Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish-U.S. FWS
- Bryan Arroyo, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- US FDA Regulation of Genetically Engineered Animals
- Larisa Rudenko, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine
- GMO-Legislation in Australia
- Wayne Fulton, CSIRO Australia
- Cross-Border Concerns
- Kathryn Garforth, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Canada
- Aquatic Invasive Fish Management-MN DNR
- Luke Skinner, Invasive Species Program, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Fish-Arizona Game and Fish
- Larry Riley, Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Economics: Evaluating Market and Non-Market Costs of Invasive Fish
- Frances Homans, University of Minnesota
Kapuscinski, A.R. and T. J. Patronski. 2005. Genetic Methods for Biological Control of Non-native Fish in the Gila River Basin. Contract report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. MN Sea Grant Publication F 20. 100 p. Available at www.seagrant.umn.edu/publications/F20.
Thresher, R.E. 2008. Autocidal technology for the control of invasive fish. Fisheries 33(3):114-121.
Doug Jensen
