Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species

The spread of exotic or non-native species through intentional or inadvertent transport by man has become an extremely serious threat to native plants and animals worldwide. Negative economic effects of invasions or introductions of non-native species in the US alone are estimated at more than $120 billion dollars per year (USFWS).  That figure continues to rise as our understanding of the crisis is more fully understood. An effective, coordinated response to address the effects of such invasions is urgently needed and must be based on detailed knowledge of the biology and behavior of these species. The Gulf and South Atlantic Regional Panel (GSARP) helps to address this need for coordination in the southeast United States.