The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced on May 4 that May 3–9 is Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Awareness Week. The department, together with the North Dakota Department of Water Resources and North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, encourages recreationists to help prevent the spread of ANS in the state’s waters through increased awareness and responsible practices.
ANS are nonnative organisms that can disrupt natural habitats, harm recreational activities, damage equipment and infrastructure, and cause long-term environmental and economic problems. Ben Holen, Game and Fish Department ANS coordinator, said “ANS have the potential to impact the daily lives of every single North Dakotan. This Awareness Week is a collaborative effort by the state and members of the North Dakota Aquatic Invasive Species Committee to highlight small actions that go a long way to prevent the introduction of ANS in North Dakota’s waters.”
North Dakota currently has low numbers of aquatic nuisance species. Other than zebra mussels, only a few invasive plants and animals—including curly leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush, as well as grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp, and common carp—are found in some state waters. Preventing their spread is important for keeping lakes, rivers and water systems healthy across North Dakota.
The Game and Fish Department promotes community engagement through hunter education courses and wildlife outreach programs to foster conservation awareness according to its official website. The agency also focuses on protecting fish and wildlife populations along with their habitats so they can be enjoyed by the public according to its official website. It operates statewide managing both wildlife resources and habitats according to its official website.
Collaboration with landowners through programs like Private Land Open To Sportsmen helps enhance habitat protection while increasing public access according to its official website. Additionally, licenses for hunting, fishing or boating are provided alongside educational programs aimed at conservation initiatives according to its official website. The department specializes in wildlife conservation management throughout these efforts according to its official website.
