Table 1b: Vectors and regulations
VECTORS DESCRIPTION REGULATIONS AUTHORITY primary: Thought to be the most common means
of
introducing aquatic species to new environments.
Planktonic
larvae are sucked up with ballast water uptake and
dispersed
when tanks are flushed in port of call. International
Maritime
Organization Resolution A-868(20) 1997, US Coast Guard Due to the high price commanded by
mitten
crabs in Asian communities smuggling of live seafood
for
resale is a potential vector especially of concern in
areas
with large Asian populations. Crabs may be
unintentionally
released, improperly disposed of, or harbor smaller
hitch-hikers (and parasites). US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department
of Interior secondary: Traditionally live seafood and/or
live
specimens are packed in seaweed and/or water that may
contain exotics. Improper disposal, cleaning of
shipping and
packing material may result in
introductions. NONE NONE Although biological supply houses in
the
US are forbidden from carrying mitten crabs due to
"injurious species" label, mitten crabs are a favorite
test
subject of physiologists for their salinity tolerance
(Slack
1996) and permits are available for their acquisition
(50CFR16.13). Again improper disposal and/or escape may
lead
to introduction. Permit required
through Federal Injurious Species Act, as amended 1989
CFR
50-16.22 US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department
of Interior Introductions into estuarine waters
to
establish food source for harvest or aquaculture.
Increasing
value of mitten crab as live seafood product may spur
illegal introductions. US Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department
of Interior Assumed to be physiologically
impossible
across oceans. May walk from watershed to watershed and
spread across continents. NONE NONE
All information from Cohen and Carlton
(1997)
unless otherwise noted.
back to Assignment 1C
created 5/4/98