As seen on one side of New York Sea Grant's new boating safety banner, the key message is "Clean, Drain, and Dry" boats to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. In related AIS news, Great Lakes states, including New York, and provinces will host the 7th annual Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz from June 30 through July 13, 2025. Volunteers will demonstrate to boaters how to prevent the spread of AIS, how to identify AIS, and how to report AIS, which are recognized as one of the most significant threats to the ecological and economic health of the Great Lakes. This annual event is coordinated through an international partnership of Indigenous, federal, state, and provincial agencies with the support of the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) and other partner organizations. "Invasive species threaten native species and the regional economy. Fish and wildlife cross jurisdictional boundaries, so we all need to work together to avoid spreading harmful species from one water body to another", said GLC Executive Director Erika Jensen.
Contact:
Stacy Furgal, New York Sea Grant Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist, E: slf85@cornell.edu, P: (315) 234-1329
Kara Lynn Dunn, NYSG's Freelance Great Lakes Publicist, E: karalynn@gisco.net, P: (315) 465-7578
Twelfth Annual Invasive Species Awareness Week: Free Public Events Scheduled across New York State to Engage and Educate New Yorkers about Invasive Species
The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) today announced that the State's 12th annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) begins Monday, June 9. Free public events, including webinars, hands-on workshops, guided hikes and paddles, and invasive species challenges will be offered online and across the state from June 9 to 15.
Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation designating ISAW to support the annual campaign to encourage New Yorkers to learn more and participate in the fight against the negative impacts of invasive species.
“Invasive Species Awareness Week is an opportunity to further educate and engage New Yorkers about the need to protect our environment, economy, and public health from the risks posed by invasive species,”?DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “Invasive species jeopardize the health of our native plant and animal communities, as well as the open spaces New Yorkers cherish for recreation, biodiversity, beauty, and the well-being of our communities. Working together, we can help safeguard New York’s rich biodiversity and ensure the resilience of our natural resources."
"We work closely with our fellow State agencies to combat the spread of harmful invasive species that can damage our agricultural crops, trees, and natural habitats,” State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said. We’re grateful to the New Yorkers that have been instrumental in helping the State keep a watchful eye out for these invasive species of all kinds. With their assistance, we have been able to better monitor and, as a result, slow the spread of these invasives. We encourage citizens to join us during Invasive Species Awareness Week to learn more about how they can help to spot, identify, and protect against these non-native species."?
“Educating New York’s communities about introduced invasive species, how to recognize them, their impacts on our local environments and economies, and approaches to reduce effects and prevent spread is a collaborative effort,” NYSG Director Becky Shuford said.?“Invasive Species Awareness Week 2025 provides the opportunity to engage the public, citizen scientists, and conservation groups through the easy-to-use redesigned nyis.info gateway. The gateway provides information and resources and localized assistance to identify invasive species and take action to protect New York’s lands and waters.”
Invasive species are plants, animals, insects, and pathogens that are not native to an area and cause harm to the environment, agriculture, economy, or public health. New York is particularly vulnerable to these pests due to its role as a center for international trade and travel.
To participate in an ISAW event, visit the NY Invasive Species Awareness Week 2025 page on the nyis.info website to find a complete list of offerings. Registration information and full event details can be found by clicking on individual events. On Monday, June 9, New York Sea Grant will provide an overview of how to use the newly redesigned nyis.info website, which provides easy access to resources and information for addressing invasive species infestations and impacts.
DEC leads a comprehensive program to promote education, research, management, and control related to invasive species across New York State. This includes aquatic invasive species like hydrilla, round goby, and northern snakehead, as well as terrestrial plants including giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, and kudzu. DEC also tracks and manages forest pests such as southern pine beetle, beech leaf disease, and hemlock wooly adelgid. DEC works with numerous partners and administers eight New York State Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs), which educate residents and visitors about how everyone can protect their lands, water, and forests from invasive species. ISAW educates New Yorkers to together to spread the word, not the species.?
AGM works to control and eradicate various invasive species, such as spotted lanternfly, European cherry fruit fly, and Asian longhorned beetle, which can harm New York’s agricultural crops, particularly grapes, hops, and fruit trees. Staff conduct annual surveys for each of these pests and inspect the state’s nearly 9,000 greenhouses, retail markets, and nursery growers and dealers for compliance with invasive plant regulations. Horticultural inspectors also monitor for invasive pests and diseases, such as European pepper moth and boxwood blight that are harmful to New York’s lands. Learn more about the invasive species that are a concern for New York agriculture.
Everyone can make a difference in the fight against invasives by helping?to locate and map infestations, using only?local firewood,?properly cleaning watercraft?before and after boating, cleaning dirt off boots after hiking, or?removing invasive species from the yard. To learn more about invasive species and how to get involved, visit DEC's website [https://dec.ny.gov/nature/invasive-species].?
More details on AIS Week events and resources from Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (FL-PRISM) and Western NY PRISM (WNY PRISM) at www.wnyprism.org/new-york-invasive-species-awareness-week-2025.
More Info: New York Sea Grant
Established in 1966, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Sea Grant College Program promotes the informed stewardship of coastal resources in 34 joint federal/state university-based programs in every U.S. coastal state (marine and Great Lakes) and Puerto Rico. The Sea Grant model has also inspired similar projects in the Pacific region, Korea and Indonesia.
Since 1971, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.
NYSG historically leverages on average a 3 to 6-fold return on each invested federal dollar, annually. We benefit from this, as these resources are invested in Sea Grant staff and their work in communities right here in New York.
Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.
New York Sea Grant, one of the largest of the state Sea Grant programs, is a cooperative program of the State University of New York (SUNY) and Cornell University. The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Oswego, the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark, and in Watertown. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County on Long Island, in Queens, at Brooklyn College, with Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC, in Bronx, with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County in Kingston, and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County in Elmsford.
For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and YouTube). NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which it publishes 2-3 times a year.