Overview
Invasive crayfish pose a substantial threat to aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes region because of their ability to reduce habitat quality, dramatically alter aquatic food webs, and outcompete native species. Currently, efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive crayfish consist largely of reducing the size of existing populations and encouraging people to refrain from releasing crayfish into new bodies of water. The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative (ICC) focuses on improving upon our collective management and outreach capabilities by disseminating novel crayfish research, encouraging collaboration between members, and conducting research and outreach projects with collaborators.
Membership
The ICC has a broad membership base that includes over 100 representatives of Great Lakes local, state, and federal natural resource agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private businesses. These experts and stakeholders are working towards the region's collective ability to manage and control invasive crayfish. New members are always welcome. Join Us!
Goals
The ICC's goals will be defined by the needs of the ICC members. These goals are being identified through a needs assessment being conducted by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) in conjunction with social scientists at the Illinois Natural History Survey.
Activities
Below are some of the ICC activities planned by IISG and funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Please note that these activities may change once member needs and ICC goals are identified through the member needs assessment.