A bill passed yesterday by the Alaska House of Representatives will give authority to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to swiftly deal with aquatic invasive species outbreaks, which wreak havoc in much of the Lower 48, with names like Rock Snot (Didymo) and Sea Vomit (Dvex).

The House Resources Committee bill will require that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game work with the Department of Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources, and gives them the authority to establish a coordinated plan to respond to aquatic invasive species outbreaks in the future.

Alaska has already fallen victim to outbreaks, one in particular is the outbreak of Dvex in Sitka Whiting Harbor. Dvex has exhibited the ability to grow very rapidly, and can spread quickly. It is unknown what damage to other aquatic species the organism has potential for. Because of its rapid growth, it can attain 100% coverage in a very short period of time. This is a particular concern in Sitka, the location of a massive Herring spawning event every year. It is unknown at this point if Herring eggs, attached to underwater structures, can withstand an invasion of this magnitude.

“We acted with foresight on land-born invasive species and HB 365 gives our state agencies the ability to do the same for water-born,” Resources Co-chair Paul Seaton, R-Homer, said. “We have known and documented problems near Sitka already. These aggressive, parasitic invasive species have the potential to seriously impact the mariculture industry, commercial fisheries, sport fisheries and overall ecosystem integrity.”

The bill lays out steps the state can take in event of an outbreak, including rapid response, suspending certain laws or regulations to mitigate delay and to stimulate inter-agency cooperation. It defines aquatic invasive species as organisms introduced to a marine or freshwater ecosystem to which it is not native, and whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

World-wide, many different approaches have been tried to eradicate the species and check its spread. Oxygen deprivation, dessicating, excessive salts, ascetic acid, bleaches among them. None have shown the potential to eradicate the organism 100% so far. There have been instances where up to 80% of the organism population has been destroyed, but the organism can re-infest at a fast rate.

HB 365 now moves to the Alaska Senate for consideration.