Laurentian and African Great Lakes: Different Strategies in the Fight Against Invasive Species

Abstract

Invasive exotic species are a reality in all ecosystems. These biological invaders disrupt ecological patterns and cause billions of dollars in economic damage. Justifiably, governments are stepping up their response. However, while many invaders are considered unmitigated ecological disasters, a number of species have become important and controversial parts of the regional economy. In the Laurentian Great Lakes, the invasive species issue has been addressed through a number of unilateral and multilateral attempts at the state, national, and international level. This “law of the lakes” has evolved towards the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 2012, which uses a framework-protocol basis to combat the problem through a preservation-focused ecosystem approach. The management of water and fisheries in the African Great Lakes has similar problems addressing invasive species. However, states in this region have responded to the threat differently, particularly as it pertains to economically viable invasive fish species. Various state-level legislation and policy shows that the invasive threat is acknowledged, but follows a conservation management approach, which hopes to maintain the essential economic opportunities that the invasive species provide for area residents. The experiences of the Laurentian Great Lakes in moving their invasive species management forward can be used as a template to update and focus the response in the African Great Lakes.