The less traveled pathways for species introduction to the Great Lakes
From: Michigan Sea Grant, MSU Extension
While ballast water has been a major way species have entered the Great Lakes, it hasn’t been the only way.
When having conversations about aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes region, most people are quick to blame ballast water when the talk turns to causes. Justifiably so, as ballast water historically has been responsible for more introductions of species to the Great Lakes than any other pathway. The introduction of zebra mussels to the Great Lakes in transoceanic ballast water and their subsequent widespread impacts to the region brought the issue of aquatic invasive species to public attention in a dramatic way, and the many species introduced by ballast water continue to live in the Great Lakes and impact both the ecosystem and human use to this day.