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Oregon Department of Fish & WildlifeJTMD Response
Final meeting of the JTMD Task ForceOctober 29, 2014
Caren Braby
Marine Resources Program Manager
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Japan TsunamiMarch 11, 2011
– Oregon mourned with the world at the tragedy unfolding in Japan
– Brookings, Coos Bay, Depoe Bay Harbors were damaged from tsunami wave
– Oregon’s coastal residents empathized with living with the threat of tsunami
– No one fully anticipated the problems that were unleashed that day
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Misawa DockJune 5, 2012
– Debris arrived earlier and larger than expected– Invasive species prominent (not expected)– Landed in an accessible, populated location
Agate Beach, Yaquina Head6 Jun 2012
60 ft X 17 ft floating dock: Grounded dock was a popular tourist attraction with over 90,000 visitors between June and July, 2012
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Coordinated Response to Dock
• Oregon State University – John Chapman, Gayle Hansen, Jessica Miller
& others
• Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife– Steve Rumrill, Rick Boatner, Caren Braby &
MRP team
• Oregon Parks & Recreation Department– Chris Havel, John Allen, Ryan Parker & OPRD
team
• Oregon Invasive Species Council & Oregon Sea Grant– Rick Boatner, Glenn Dolphin, Sam Chan,
Steve Brandt
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Taxonomic Identification
About 120 species of non-native marine organisms were attached to the floating dock
Scientists from Oregon State University collected and identified the non-native marine organisms
Dr. John ChapmanDr. Jessica Miller
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Scraping of Dock
June 7, 2012
Scraped Dock to Remove Marine Organisms
4,260 lbs13 Staff 3 days
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Burial of Organisms
OPRD transported bags of marine organisms by truck to high elevation on beach (above high-tide line)
OPRD Staff worked with a contractor to excavate a 10-12 ft deep hole and bury the marine organisms in sand
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Sterilization of Dock
Propane torches were used to kill marine organisms on surface and in cracks and crevices
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Dock Removal
Due to high NIS risk ODFW recommended removal rather than re-use in bay/marina
• NIS on dock bottom scoured by sand & crushed
• During demolition, more invasive organisms discovered inside bumper
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End of story…
The rest of the story!
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Planning for More
Risks from Large JTMD:1. Navigational hazards2. Hazardous materials3. Non-native species4. Public safety liability
• Japan government estimated 506 vessels (various sizes) were washed out to sea by the tsunami
• ODFW helped develop criteria for decisions regarding large floating objects from the Tohoku Japan Tsunami, hosting marine organisms
Panga Fleet
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“Panga” vessels(probable JTMD)
Gleneden BeachFebruary 5, 2013
Megabalanus rosa
Fueling procedure sticker
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Wooden Beams & Timbers(probable JTMD)
Ponsler BeachMarch 21, 2013
OceansideMarch 25, 2013
Wood debris is Terrestrial Origin Debris (TOD), colonized at sea by cosmopolitan, open-ocean marine organisms. We now think these items do not pose a threat from non-native species.
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Pelagic gooseneck barnacle (Lepas anatifera) and mussels (Mytilus spp.), common on floating logs
Damage to submerged wood caused by shipworms (burrowing bivalves)
and gribbles (isopods)
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June2014
Jan2013
June 2013
June2012
Jan 2014
DockFishing Floats
Panga vessels
Waves of JTMD with non-native species
Wood
Tracked on “Biofouling Register” (distinct from official JTMD)
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Summary: ODFW Role
• Non-native species mitigation– 1st priority: remove threat on open coast– 2nd priority: facilitate/conduct scientific
sampling of probable JTMD biota
• Accomplishments– Response to the dock, buoys, vessels, wood– Scientific coordination (sampling, workshops)– Agency coordination on response, outreach– Planning for at-sea interception of large debris
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Summary: Financial Cost of Response
• Largely, fiscal impacts were absorbed by state and federal agency budgets
• Costs were primarily in staff time, for ODFW
• Academic researchers have had success securing federal funding to study the samples collected
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Next Steps
• Task Force concludes• ODFW staff will continue to monitor and
coordinate with academics and agencies• Long-term studies will reveal if any of the
non-native species have taken hold on Oregon shores
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Questions?