Throughout N.C., there are various non-native species of plants and animals that are found in our lakes and rivers. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has declared a handful of specific as aquatic nuisance species throughout the state.
The NCWRC defines aquatic nuisance species’ as “a nonnative species that has been introduced as is known to be causing ecological or economic harm.”
They go on to add, “Not every non-native aquatic species is a problem. Some don’t occur in great numbers or create significant ecological or economic harm; others have important commercial or recreational value.”
The states has a number of diverse species across our lakes, rivers, reservoirs and even the Atlantic Ocean. Despite our vast aquatic ecosystems, the species that have been labeled a nuisance cause economic loses in the billion of dollars, according to the NCWRC.
Roughly 75 percent of the aquatic nuisance species have been introduced in the state’s bodies of water from elsewhere in North America. Humans are the cause of nearly all introductions, whether it is intentional or not, according to the NCWRC.
Over 60 percent of aquatic nuisance species of fish are introduced to the states bodies of water is through intentional stocking or bait release, according to the NCWRC. A permit is required in order to protect the native and legally established aquatic species from potential damaging effects.
There are over 300 species of freshwater or marine animals, plants and pathogens in the state. The ones the NCWRC lists are the ones that boaters and anglers are most likely to encounter.
Apple and mystery snails, didymo, gill lice, hydrilla, whirling disease and zebra mussels are the aquatic nuisance species that the NCWRC lists.
Whirling disease and gill lice are found in trout in western N.C., according to the NCWRC. Didymo is an algae that has been found in the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County. Hydrilla is a highly invasive aquatic plant found in freshwater lakes and ponds.
Some of the ways that the NCWRC recommends boaters and anglers to do in order to prevent and stop the spread of these aquatic nuisance species are to not transport live fish from one body of water to another, carefully clean all equipment after fishing and to dispose of fish parts carefully when cleaning fish.
For boaters, clean equipment of all aquatic plants, animals and mud, drain water from boats; live wells, boat buckets and all equipment; dry all equipment thoroughly after use; and never move fish, plants or other organisms from one body of water to another.