Ron also shared a sample of the zebra mussel Attack Pack developed by WI Sea Grant. More information on the Attack Pack is available on the Wisconsin Sea Grant nonindigenous species web page. Phil Moy gave a presentation on ballast water policy in the Great Lakes. Over 140 nonnative species are found in the Great Lakes. Ballast water is one of several vectors.
Ships use ballast to help maintain stability when there is no cargo on board.
Phil briefly outlined several options for treating ballast and some of the hurdles to overcome before they can be implemented at a full-scale level. There was much discussion of possible means to clean out the sediment and water in empty ballast tanks and potential approaches to flushing, heating or cooling ballast water. John Janssen gave a short presentation on round gobies and their effects in the Great Lakes. Round gobies are prolific and aggressive. As their population expands they comprise an increasing portion of the diet of sport fish.