Mission, Goals, and Objectives

NEANS Panel members have drafted a set of goals and objectives based on responsibilities outlined in the National Invasive Species Act, as well as the mission statement below. The Panel may add or amend objectives as improved coordination clarifies regional ANS management priorities.

Mission
Protect the marine and freshwater resources of the Northeast from invasive ANS through commitment and cohesive coordinated action.

Goals
1) Prevent the introduction, establishment, and dispersal of invasive ANS in the Northeast.

2) Control the spread of invasive ANS already introduced into the Northeast.

3) Mitigate the harmful ecological, economic, social, and public health impacts associated with the introduction, establishment, or spread of invasive ANS in the Northeast.

Objectives
1) Provide regional coordination and leadership to federal, state, provincial, and tribal governments and commercial, private, and public organizations conducting invasive ANS programs or activities.
i) Advise the ANS Task Force regarding national and regional priorities and projects. Respond to specific requests from the ANS Task Force providing regional perspectives and recommendations.
ii) Encourage partnership among agencies and organizations to enhance efforts limited by financial or staff resources. Stimulate and strengthen partnership with stakeholders.

2) Provide regional support for and encourage commitment to state, provincial, and regional ANS policies.
a) Secure the commitment of states and provinces within the geographic scope of the Panel to recognize the significance of invasive ANS, elevate awareness, and advance efforts to develop and implement ANS policies and management.
b) Develop and establish regional policy guidance to encourage consistency among the states and provinces within the geographic scope of the Panel.
c) Encourage states and provinces within the geographic scope of the Panel to develop and adopt ANS policies.

3) Provide regional support for the use of regulatory and legislative authorities, when necessary, to prevent and control invasive ANS.
a) Encourage states and interstate organizations within the geographic scope of the Panel to develop and implement comprehensive ANS management plans. Encourage Canadian provinces to develop and implement similar management plans and to participate in developing and implementing plans for bi-national waters.
b) Develop guidance to assist states and provinces in evaluating existing legislative authorities and law enforcement practices.
c) Encourage states, provinces, and tribal authorities to develop and establish consistent legislation and enforcement to address invasive ANS.

4) Increase ANS awareness among all sectors of the public emphasizing the need for and importance of prevention.
a) Stimulate legislator and resource manager awareness to promote the importance of ANS and the implementation of prevention and eradication techniques.
b) Increase awareness among stakeholders emphasizing the critical role they can play in ANS spread prevention.
c) Increase awareness among state, federal, and provincial law enforcement agencies with importation inspection responsibilities.
d) Increase awareness among the general public to advance general understanding of the harmful impacts associated with invasive species, to promote support from the public for increased funding to address invasive species issues, to foster proper use of prevention techniques, and to advance early detection and surveillance efforts through volunteer monitoring efforts.

5) Support and foster research initiatives that advance control, eradication, base line monitoring, and prevention of invasive ANS. Support and foster research that contributes to the understanding of the biology, ecology, and potential impacts of invasive ANS and the vectors by which they are dispersed.
a) Support ANS inventory and assessment research initiatives in freshwater and marine ecosystems.
b) Support research studying species-specific biology, ecology, and control vulnerability to advance control and management of ANS.
c) Support research exploring new prevention alternatives that could be easily conducted by the general public.
d) Support research investigating alternative control technologies.
e) Encourage funding agencies to support invasive ANS research.

6) Serve as a regional resource or clearinghouse to coordinate and promote information sharing among all the states and provinces within the geographic scope of the Panel.
a) Ensure that state, provincial, and regional information and data is available to resource agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
b) Provide a mechanism for researchers to share technical and scientific information with Panel member agencies and organizations for efficient dissemination to stakeholders and the public.
c) Ensure information and data is shared with existing invasive ANS clearinghouses or data centers (e.g. National Aquatic Nuisance Species Clearinghouse maintained by New York Sea Grant, National Nonindigenous Species Database maintained by U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL).

7) Evaluate Panel progress and effectiveness to ensure the work of the Panel meets the needs of its members, is consistent with the Panel's Mission and Goals, add value to existing efforts, and contributes to the successful prevention, control, and management of invasive ANS.
a) Prepare and submit an annual report summarizing the progress and accomplishments of the Panel to the ANS Task Force.
b) Prepare annual work plans outlining priority activities that the Panel and its committees will undertake.
c) Evaluate Panel membership as needed to ensure appropriate agencies, organizations, and stakeholders are represented.
d) Evaluate the Operational Framework of the Panel including the Mission, Goals, and Objectives as needed.