State Policies  Evaluating Current State Invasive Species Policy
in Light of Federal Support  The states bear primary
responsibility for avoiding, detecting, eradicating, and
managing invasive species. As a result, state laws are integral
components in a comprehensive and effective national policy.  ©
Rachel Woodfield, Merkel & Associates, Inc.,  In California,
just one invasive seaweed, Caulerpa taxifolia, cost $8.3 million
between 2000 and 2008—possibly because one person dumped the
contents of a personal aquarium into the ocean.  Based on the
Environmental Law Institute’s report, “Status and Trends in
State Invasive Species Policy: 2002–2009,” the Union of
Concerned Scientists prepared fact sheets for eleven states. The
states evaluated for their invasive species policies include:
Few of these states address all of the pathways by which
invasive species are introduced, and some pathways (like
international trade) are the sole responsibility of the federal
government. Therefore, the success of state effort