US EPA

6471415 

Journal Article 

Economic Impacts of Exotics in the Great Lakes - a Review 

Muir, TA 

2002 

There are more than 140 aquatic invasive species documented in the Great Lakes. These have had substantial ecological, environmental and economic damages. Known estimates of damage costs include: zebra mussels - U.S. $3 to $5 billion over the last 15 years, and $300 million annually; Ruffe - loss of yellow perch commercial fishery of U.S. $120M/yr and sports fishery loss $400M/yr; aquatic weed control up to U.S. $260,000/yr for each state; lamprey control costs are U.S. $13M/yr. As the primary vector of introduction, ship water ballast treatment is being examined. Capital costs for centralized facilities range from U.S. $9M to $19M. Capital costs for individual ships treatment are about U.S. $500,000, or about $3.00 Cdn (U.S. $2.00) per cubic meter of water ballast. This is an increase in operating cost per voyage of $0.90 to $1.20 Cdn per tonne, or an increase in freight rates of from 1% (grain) to 30% (coal), or an increase in landed commodity costs of 1% or less. Hypothetically, the ocean shipping trade could be lost to the Seaway at a cost of $1.10 Cdn per tonne of remaining cargo and represent a 6% to 8% increase in transportation cost depending on commodity and route. There are many other real or suspected damages that are little or not known, and these may become apparent as they emerge in the future. 

; Fishery economics; Noxious organisms; Costs; Economics; Environmental impact; Pest control; Introduced species; Biological damage; Perch; Lakes; Mussels; Exotic Species; Aquatic Life; Weed Control; Economic Aspects; Cost Analysis; Freshwater; North America; Great Lakes/