Invasive species do not respect the arbitrary jurisdictional boundaries humans create, so it is critical to establish national and international partnerships to study, monitor invasive species, investigate potential pathways of introduction, and finally develop policies and tools to prevent the introduction and spread of these organisms. Equally important to research is the development and dissemination of effective outreach and education methods, resources, and technical assistance to reduce the sale and potential spread of marine invasive species. USC Sea Grant has a long history of working on aquatic invasive species (AIS) and will continue to support investigations about AIS – including how incidences may increase with a changing climate and with additional vectors like floating plastic debris.
