Aquatic Plants in Trade
Although relatively innocuous when confined to an aquarium or backyard water garden, invasive aquatic plants can become harmful when introduced into a natural waterway. Introductions of these plants can occur in several ways such as when water gardens are flooded by heavy rains or a hobbyist dumps unwanted plants into a local lake. Once introduced, invasive plants can displace native ones, which are important sources of food and shelter for wildlife. They can also affect water chemistry and flow, block drainage pipes, and hinder commercial and recreational fishing. Impacts like these are becoming widespread in aquatic and wetland habitats throughout North America.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) is focusing intensively on this issue in Indiana. At the request of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we have convened a working group composed of representatives from the aquatic plant industry, academia, state agencies and non-governmental organizations. This group is developing a science-based risk assessment for aquatic plants in trade in Indiana, which will be used by the DNR to identify plants that pose a risk to state waters. The working group also has plans to develop best management practices for Indiana’s aquatic plant industry, and will provide guidance to IISG aquatic invasive species (AIS) specialists as we augment our outreach tools for aquatic plant hobbyists (e.g., water gardeners) and industry representatives in both Indiana and Illinois.
To learn more about invasive species in our waterways, visit our AIS page.
To learn more about invasive aquatic plants, visit:
University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
U.S. Geological Survey - Nonindigenous (Non-native) Aquatic Species
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Invasive and Noxious Plants
Outreach Tools
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