One Year Down, Nine to Go: Progress on Implementing the 2017-2027 Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan
Josh Atwood (DLNR/HISC), Randy Bartlett (HISC/PCSU), Jules Kuo (DLNR/PCSU), James Leary (UH)
The Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan (HIBP) was developed by HDOA, the HISC, and a diverse group partners and stakeholders including members of government, industry, and the public. We define biosecurity as the complete set of measures taken to manage the risk from invasive species to the economy, environment, and the health and lifestyle of the people of Hawaii. It is an cross-sectoral problem that requires interagency solutions.
The HIBP started with a gaps analysis and resulted in 147 actions designed to address those gaps. The actions are assigned a lead agency and time frame for implementation between 2017 and 2027. This effort is comprehensive in scope, meaning it includes:
• Preborder biosecurity: policies and actions preventing the entry of invasive species to Hawaii
• Border biosecurity: policies and actions for detection and response to the arrival of species in Hawaii
• Postborder biosecurity: policies and actions for the control or eradication of species present in Hawaii.
The Plan
The Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan (HIBP) was developed by HDOA, the HISC, and a diverse group partners and stakeholders including members of government, industry, and the public. We define biosecurity as the complete set of measures taken to manage the risk from invasive species to the economy, environment, and the health and lifestyle of the people of Hawaii. It is an cross-sectoral problem that requires interagency solutions.
The HIBP started with a gaps analysis and resulted in 147 actions designed to address those gaps. The actions are assigned a lead agency and time frame for implementation between 2017 and 2027. This effort is comprehensive in scope, meaning it includes:
• Preborder biosecurity: policies and actions preventing the entry of invasive species to Hawaii
• Border biosecurity: policies and actions for detection and response to the arrival of species in Hawaii
• Postborder biosecurity: policies and actions for the control or eradication of species present in Hawaii.
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 56% of outreach agency actions have been initiated. Neither of the two legislative actions has been introduced yet. Highlights include:
•HDOA Plant Industry Division has new signs and videos at Honolulu Airport relating to biosecurity, focusing on proper use of amnesty bins on entry to Hawaii (PwsTifs1.4)
•HISC and HDOA launched a new pest reporting tool for public use in 2017. Joining the existing 643-PEST telephone hotline are the new 643pest.org website and 643-PEST mobile app, available on iOS and Android. Now users can alert the state of invasive species sightings from anywhere, and can upload photos and map points to aid response. (PwsPro3.5)
•A 2017 public awareness survey by the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species found that over 80% of Hawaii residents consider invasive species a serious problem, and 75% support doubling the portion of the state budget that goes toward biosecurity agencies. (PwsPro3.3)
Remaining outreach needs by 2027 include:
•Promote a certified nurseries program to help consumers find certified growers (PwsPro1.5)
•Expand the “Buy Local” campaign at HDOA to include messaging about biosecurity and the reduced invasive species risk associated with supporting local agriculture.
Outreach Actions
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 56% of outreach agency actions have been initiated. Neither of the two legislative actions has been introduced yet. Highlights include:
•HDOA Plant Industry Division has new signs and videos at Honolulu Airport relating to biosecurity, focusing on proper use of amnesty bins on entry to Hawaii (PwsTifs1.4)
•HISC and HDOA launched a new pest reporting tool for public use in 2017. Joining the existing 643-PEST telephone hotline are the new 643pest.org website and 643-PEST mobile app, available on iOS and Android. Now users can alert the state of invasive species sightings from anywhere, and can upload photos and map points to aid response. (PwsPro3.5)
•A 2017 public awareness survey by the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species found that over 80% of Hawaii residents consider invasive species a serious problem, and 75% support doubling the portion of the state budget that goes toward biosecurity agencies. (PwsPro3.3)
Remaining outreach needs by 2027 include:
•Promote a certified nurseries program to help consumers find certified growers (PwsPro1.5)
•Expand the “Buy Local” campaign at HDOA to include messaging about biosecurity and the reduced invasive species risk associated with supporting local agriculture.
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 58% of preborder agency actions have been initiated and 33% of legislative actions have been adopted. Highlights include:
• HDOA has accerlerated work on its electronic manifest system for tracking commidities and prioritizing inspections based on past interception data. They expect the software to be completed by the end of the year. (PrePro1.1)
• HDOA is working with ecommerce vendors to incorporate Hawaii import restrictions into their shipping policies. (PrePro3.1)
• A new CGAPS legal fellow is looking into rules that could restrict certain high-risk plants from entering the state, and finding ways to restrict myrtaceae imports in order to limit risk of ohia rust (PrePol3.1, BorPol2.2)
• Funds provided or approved by the legislature supported developments on the emanifest system and biosecurity databases.
Remaining preborder needs by 2027 include:
• Amending admin rules to require phytosanitary certificates for high-risk plant imports (PrePol2.2)
• At HDOA Plant Quarantine, hiring three entomologists, two plant pathologists, and two botanists to conduct ongoing pathway risk assessments (PreTifs2.2)
• At DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, hiring two biologists to conduct ballast & biofouling risk assessments (PreTifs2.5)
• Legislative funding was requested but not provided in 2018 for an enhanced import subsititution program. (PreTifs2.4)
Preborder Actions
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 58% of preborder agency actions have been initiated and 33% of legislative actions have been adopted. Highlights include:
• HDOA has accerlerated work on its electronic manifest system for tracking commidities and prioritizing inspections based on past interception data. They expect the software to be completed by the end of the year. (PrePro1.1)
• HDOA is working with ecommerce vendors to incorporate Hawaii import restrictions into their shipping policies. (PrePro3.1)
• A new CGAPS legal fellow is looking into rules that could restrict certain high-risk plants from entering the state, and finding ways to restrict myrtaceae imports in order to limit risk of ohia rust (PrePol3.1, BorPol2.2)
• Funds provided or approved by the legislature supported developments on the emanifest system and biosecurity databases.
Remaining preborder needs by 2027 include:
• Amending admin rules to require phytosanitary certificates for high-risk plant imports (PrePol2.2)
• At HDOA Plant Quarantine, hiring three entomologists, two plant pathologists, and two botanists to conduct ongoing pathway risk assessments (PreTifs2.2)
• At DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, hiring two biologists to conduct ballast & biofouling risk assessments (PreTifs2.5)
• Legislative funding was requested but not provided in 2018 for an enhanced import subsititution program. (PreTifs2.4)
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 72% of border agency actions have been initiated and 13% of legislative actions have been adopted. Highlights include:
• The Clift Tsuji Act of 2017 provided the authority for HDOA to enter into public-private partnerships to utilize 3rd party inspection facilities. HDOA is developing standards for 3rdparty facilities through a pilot program.
•DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources initiated development of a database to house data collected from ballast water reports and, eventually, biofouling inspections (BorPro2.3)
•DOH Vector Control Branch has been fully restored to its capacity prior to the 2009 Reduction in Force. The new Vector Control Branch is actively building programs for mosquito surveillance and response, and is engaging in research relating to rat lungworm disease. (BorTifs1.5)
•HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch has reinstated their detector dog program and currently has three canine handler teams for inspections. (BorPro1.1)
Remaining border needs by 2027 include:
•Establish a biosecurity emergency response fund. Bills introduced in 2017 and 2018 but not yet approved. (BorPol1.3)
•Double the staff at HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch to meet current inspection volume, roughly 90 new positions (BorTifs1.1)
•Hire five aquatic biologists to inspect and regulate ballast water and biofouling statewide (BorTifs3.1)
Border Actions
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 72% of border agency actions have been initiated and 13% of legislative actions have been adopted. Highlights include:
• The Clift Tsuji Act of 2017 provided the authority for HDOA to enter into public-private partnerships to utilize 3rd party inspection facilities. HDOA is developing standards for 3rdparty facilities through a pilot program.
•DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources initiated development of a database to house data collected from ballast water reports and, eventually, biofouling inspections (BorPro2.3)
•DOH Vector Control Branch has been fully restored to its capacity prior to the 2009 Reduction in Force. The new Vector Control Branch is actively building programs for mosquito surveillance and response, and is engaging in research relating to rat lungworm disease. (BorTifs1.5)
•HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch has reinstated their detector dog program and currently has three canine handler teams for inspections. (BorPro1.1)
Remaining border needs by 2027 include:
•Establish a biosecurity emergency response fund. Bills introduced in 2017 and 2018 but not yet approved. (BorPol1.3)
•Double the staff at HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch to meet current inspection volume, roughly 90 new positions (BorTifs1.1)
•Hire five aquatic biologists to inspect and regulate ballast water and biofouling statewide (BorTifs3.1)
HIBP actions are categorized as one of three types: 1) Policy actions, including legislation and admin rules; 2) Process actions, describing how existing resources work together; and 3) Resource actions, including developments in technology, infrastructure, funding, and staffing. The implementation path depends on the type of action:
Focal areas of the Plan:
Implementation Strategy
HIBP actions are categorized as one of three types: 1) Policy actions, including legislation and admin rules; 2) Process actions, describing how existing resources work together; and 3) Resource actions, including developments in technology, infrastructure, funding, and staffing. The implementation path depends on the type of action:
Focal areas of the Plan:
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 38% of postborder agency actions have been initiated and 10% of legislative actions have been adopted. Highlights include:
•DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has joined an international evaluation process that could lead to safe in-water vessel cleaning tools being implemented in Hawaii and elsewhere in the US. (PosPro4.5)
•Initial discussions are underway to increase programmatic stability at UH for the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, which administers important gap-filling projects such as the Invasive Species Committees and Hawaii Ant Lab. (PosPro1.5)
•The Hawaii Department of Agriculture made permanent a rule to prohibit the movement of soil and ohia products from Hawaii Island, to minimize risk of spreading the Ceratocystispathogen that causes rapid ohiadeath (PosPol1.3)
• The legislature provided funding for a number of important postborder biosecurity issues, including: planning funds to develop a new HDOA Biocontrol Research Facility ($180k in 2018), a large boost in 2018 to watershed fencing funding, and stable funding for the HISC, now part of the recurring base budget.
Remaining postborder needs by 2027 include:
• Increase funding and stability for Watershed Partnerships and Invasive Species Committees (PosPro3.3)
• Construct new biocontrol research facilities at the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch, following the production of a development plan produced with funds provided in 2018 (PosTifs2.1)
• At UH CTAHR, hire four agricultural diagnosticians for insect & disease response (PosTifs1.14)
• At HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch, hire 20 positions to meet current control needs (PosTifs1.2)
• At DLNR DOFAW, hire 45 invasive species techs statewide to protect natural areas. Requested in 2018 but not yet approved. (PosTifs1.10)
Postborder Actions
(Scroll down for highlights)
18 months into the implementation timeline, 38% of postborder agency actions have been initiated and 10% of legislative actions have been adopted. Highlights include:
•DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources has joined an international evaluation process that could lead to safe in-water vessel cleaning tools being implemented in Hawaii and elsewhere in the US. (PosPro4.5)
•Initial discussions are underway to increase programmatic stability at UH for the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, which administers important gap-filling projects such as the Invasive Species Committees and Hawaii Ant Lab. (PosPro1.5)
•The Hawaii Department of Agriculture made permanent a rule to prohibit the movement of soil and ohia products from Hawaii Island, to minimize risk of spreading the Ceratocystispathogen that causes rapid ohiadeath (PosPol1.3)
• The legislature provided funding for a number of important postborder biosecurity issues, including: planning funds to develop a new HDOA Biocontrol Research Facility ($180k in 2018), a large boost in 2018 to watershed fencing funding, and stable funding for the HISC, now part of the recurring base budget.
Remaining postborder needs by 2027 include:
• Increase funding and stability for Watershed Partnerships and Invasive Species Committees (PosPro3.3)
• Construct new biocontrol research facilities at the HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch, following the production of a development plan produced with funds provided in 2018 (PosTifs2.1)
• At UH CTAHR, hire four agricultural diagnosticians for insect & disease response (PosTifs1.14)
• At HDOA Plant Pest Control Branch, hire 20 positions to meet current control needs (PosTifs1.2)
• At DLNR DOFAW, hire 45 invasive species techs statewide to protect natural areas. Requested in 2018 but not yet approved. (PosTifs1.10)
• Testify at the legislature: Go to http://capitol.hawaii.gov and search for "biosecurity" or "invasive" during each legislative session
• Get your friends involved in public pest reporting: 643pest.org, 643-PEST Mobile App on iOS and Android
• Researchers & agency staff can request HISC funds for projects that help implement the HIBP: Call for proposals every April, signup for HISC email list at hisc.hawaii.gov
• Read the plan: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/plans/hibp/
We Need You!
• Testify at the legislature: Go to http://capitol.hawaii.gov and search for "biosecurity" or "invasive" during each legislative session
• Get your friends involved in public pest reporting: 643pest.org, 643-PEST Mobile App on iOS and Android
• Researchers & agency staff can request HISC funds for projects that help implement the HIBP: Call for proposals every April, signup for HISC email list at hisc.hawaii.gov
• Read the plan: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/plans/hibp/
