HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a risk evaluation and management program that has been applied
to both the safe processing of foods and invasive species spread prevention and control. Potential hazards are identified
and evaluated, and control measures put into place to prevent, eliminate or reduce the risks to acceptable levels. Limits
on the controls are monitored to ensure that identified risks are minimized.
The following HACCP plan for the suction harvest of aquatic weeds is meant to serve as guidance for anyone involved in
such an activity and can be adapted to fit a specific operation. If implemented properly, the outlined steps can help reduce
the risk of inadvertent spread of aquatic invasive species by this activity. For more information, contact Nancy Murray at
CT DEEP (860-424-3589; nancy.murray@ct.gov) or Nancy Balcom, at Connecticut Sea Grant (860-405-9107;
nancy.balcom@uconn.edu).
HACCP Template drafted by Maura Robie and Nancy Balcom (CT Sea Grant), and Nancy Murray (CT DEEP);
July2013
HACCP Step 1 – Activity Description
Management Objective & Contact Information
HACCP Plan Title: Suction Harvesting for Aquatic Nuisance Species
Management Objective:
Contact Person:
Management/Removal of ANS – Suction Harvesting
Phone:
Email:
Activity Description
Suction Harvesting Service to fill out Who; What; Where; When
Who: (Professional Suction Harvesting Service Name)
What: Suction Harvest of (List Aquatic Nuisance plant)
Where:
When: (Date)
How: Load gear for suction harvesting into vehicle, drive to site, launch boat, and perform suction harvest.
Bring target invasive plants to vehicle on shore. Load gear into vehicle and remove boat from water. Remove
nuisance plants offsite to an approved location. Return to storage place. Gear and boat are unloaded and
stored.
Why: As a management plan to remove a particular aquatic nuisance species
1
HACCP Step 2 – Activity Flow Chart
Outline Sequential Tasks of Activity
Preliminary research
PreTasks
Research native and nuisance plants & animals present in water body. Perform a Natural
Diversity Database (NDDB) request looking for presence of protected species. Fill out findings
in Step 3.
Title: Load suction harvest gear and drive to site
Task 1
Description: Load appropriate gear for suction harvesting, including boat, and drive to site.
Title: Unload gear and launch boat
Task 2
Description: Unload dive gear, prepare to conduct harvesting, and launch boat.
Title: Install sediment control curtain & Perform suction harvest
Task 3
Description: Install sediment control curtain around work area. Suction up the targeted
nuisance plants from the bottom of water body, which are deposited in mesh bags or baskets
on boat.
Title: Plants brought to vehicle on shore & loaded
Task 4
Description: Plants brought from boat to shore and placed in vehicle.
Title: Reload gear into vehicle & remove boat from water
Task 5
Description: Take boat out of water and reload all gear in vehicle.
Title: Plants brought to proper off-site location
Task 6
Description: Plants on vehicle are driven to proper off-site location and disposed.
Title: Return all gear and boat to storage
Task 7
Description: Drive back to storage site and put gear and boat away.
2
HACCP Step 3 – Identify Potential Targets & non-targets
Suction Harvesting Service to fill out
Targets & Non-targets That May Potentially Be Moved/Introduced
Vertebrates:
Nuisance fish:
NDDB fish:
Invertebrates:
Nuisance invertebrates:
NDDB invertebrates:
Plants:
Nuisance plants:
NDDB plants & status:
Other Organisms
Nuisance pathogens, parasites, etc.:
3
HACCP Step 4 – Target & Non-Target Analysis Worksheet
1
Tasks
(from Step 2)
2
Potential
Targets &
Non-targets
(from Step 3)
3
Risk
Assessment
Are any targets
& non-targets
significant?
4
Justification
Justify your answer
in Column 3
5
Control
What control
measures can be
applied during this
task to reduce the
risk of targets & nontargets?
Yes or No
Vertebrates
No
Invertebrates
No
Plants
7
Justification
Is this
task a
CCP?
Justify your
answer in
Column 6
Yes or
No
N/A
No
↓
N/A
No
↓
No
↓
N/A
No
↓
Others
No
↓
N/A
No
↓
Vertebrates
No
N/A
No
Invertebrates
No
↓
N/A
No
↓
Plants
No
↓
N/A
No
↓
Others
No
↓
N/A
No
↓
Task # 3
Vertebrates
No
N/A
No
Title: Install
sediment
control curtain
& perform
suction
harvest
Invertebrates
No
N/A
No
↓
Plants
Yes
If alone, periodically
check for fragments.
If possible, have
another person
Yes
The risk of
spread is
higher during
this activity
Task # 1
Title: Load
suction
harvest gear
and drive to
site
Task # 2
Title: Unload
gear and
launch boat
Low risk because all
gear is cleaned/
disinfected after
each use.
6
CCP?
Low risk because all
gear / boat are
cleaned/disinfected
after each use.
Low risk because
curtain purpose is to
prevent spread and
is cleaned /
disinfected after
each use
↓
High risk for plant
fragments to
escape and reestablish in another
There are no
significant
targets & nontargets during
this task
There are no
significant
targets & nontargets during
this task
There are no
significant
targets & nontargets during
this task
4
Others
1
Tasks
(from Step 2)
2
Potential
Targets &
Non-targets
(from Step 3)
No
3
Risk
Assessment
Are any targets
& non-targets
significant?
area of waterbody
collecting plant
fragments during
/after suction
harvesting.
Low risk because
curtain purpose is to
prevent spread and
is cleaned /
disinfected after
each use
N/A
No
5
Control
What control
measures can be
applied during this
task to reduce the
risk of targets & nontargets?
6
CCP?
7
Justification
Is this
task a
CCP?
Justify your
answer in
Column 6
4
Justification
Justify your answer
in Column 3
Yes or No
Task # 4
Title: Plants
brought to
vehicle on
shore &
loaded
than found in
nature
↓
Yes or
No
Vertebrates
No
Low risk because
fish can move
throughout the
waterbody on their
own
N/A
No
There are no
significant
targets & nontargets during
this task
Invertebrates
Yes
If waterbody
contains zebra
mussels - High risk
that juvenile zebra
mussels are
attached to plants
and can be moved
from one area of
infestation to
another while in
transport
Check plants and
note any visible
zebra mussels.
Keep all plants
contained while in
transit to shore.
Check ground area
after loading vehicle
and where plants
may be stored
before removal.
Properly dispose of
any plants found.
Yes
Zebra mussels
are known to
be highly
invasive. The
risk of spread
is higher
during this
activity than
found in nature
Plants
Yes
High risk that plant
fragments or seeds
can be moved from
one area of
infestation to
another while in
transport
Keep all plants and
fragments contained
while in transit to
shore. Check
ground area after
loading vehicle and
where plants may be
stored before
Yes
Many invasive
plants can
easily
propagate
from the
smallest
fragment or
seed. The risk
5
removal. Properly
dispose of any
plants found
Others
1
Tasks
(from Step 2)
2
Potential
Targets &
Non-targets
(from Step 3)
No
3
Risk
Assessment
Are any targets
& non-targets
significant?
Low risk because
pathogens/parasites
can spread
throughout the
waterbody on their
own
4
Justification
Justify your answer
in Column 3
N/A
No
5
Control
What control
measures can be
applied during this
task to reduce the
risk of targets & nontargets?
6
CCP?
7
Justification
Is this
task a
CCP?
Justify your
answer in
Column 6
Yes or No
Task # 5
of spread is
higher during
this activity
than found in
nature.
Yes or
No
Vertebrates
Yes
High risk that
hatchling
vertebrates or eggs
could be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
Invertebrates
Yes
High risk that
invertebrates could
be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
↓
Yes
↓
Plants
Yes
High risk that plant
pieces or seeds
could be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
↓
Yes
↓
Others
Yes
High risk that
pathogens/parasites
could be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
↓
Yes
↓
Title: Reload
gear into
vehicle &
remove boat
from water
Visually inspect all
scuba gear, boat,
and gear for targets
& non-targets and
properly discard any
found.
There are no
significant
targets & nontargets during
this task
Yes
ANSTF clean,
drain, dry
guidelines
advise
cleaning and
draining before
leaving water
access if
possible
6
1
Tasks
(from Step 2)
2
Potential
Targets &
Non-targets
(from Step 3)
3
Risk
Assessment
Are any targets
& non-targets
significant?
4
Justification
Justify your answer
in Column 3
5
Control
What control
measures can be
applied during this
task to reduce the
risk of targets & nontargets?
Yes or No
Task # 6
Task # 7
7
Justification
Is this
task a
CCP?
Justify your
answer in
Column 6
Yes or
No
Vertebrates
Yes
High risk for
vertebrate eggs to
be moved from one
infested area to
another
Invertebrates
Yes
High risk for
invertebrates to be
moved from one
infested area to
another
↓
Yes
↓
Plants
Yes
High risk that plant
fragments or seeds
can be moved from
one infested area to
another
↓
Yes
↓
Others
Yes
High risk for
pathogens/parasites
to be moved from
one infested area to
another
↓
Yes
↓
Vertebrates
Yes
High risk that
vertebrates or eggs
could be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
Invertebrates
Yes
High risk that
invertebrates could
be in gear or
Title: Plants
brought to
proper off-site
location
Title: Return
all gear and
boat to
storage
Completely contain
all plants and
fragments in vehicle
and dispose of in an
approved location
(away from possible
re-introduction)
6
CCP?
Follow ANSTF
guidelines of Clean,
Drain, Dry for boats,
scuba diving gear,
and other
equipment.
↓
Yes
Yes
Yes
The risk of
spread is
higher during
this activity
than found in
nature
If the
equipment is
not decontaminated
then it won’t
be available
for use next
time, must be
done!
↓
7
attached to boat
and/or parts
Plants
Yes
High risk that plant
pieces or seeds
could be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
↓
Yes
↓
Others
Yes
High risk that
pathogens/parasites
could be in gear or
attached to boat
and/or parts
↓
Yes
↓
8
HACCP Step 5 – HACCP Plan Form
(all CCP’s or “yes’s” from column 6 of HACCP Step 4 – Hazard Analysis Worksheet)
Monitoring
Critical
Control
Point
(CCP)
Significant
Hazard(s)
(Step 4,
Column 3)
Prescribed Limits for each
Control Measure (PRLC)
Where
How
Frequency
Who
Evaluation &
Corrective
Action(s)
(if control
measures fail)
Supporting
Documentation
(if any)
As often as
plant
fragments
still remain
and as time
allows.
Coworker or
Supervisor
If plant fragments are
still observed in water,
repeat the control
measure as often as
possible and have more
than one person perform
if possible.
Aquatic Nuisance
Species Task
Force: Voluntary
Guidelines to
prevent the spread
of Aquatic Invasive
Species.
Every time
plants are
brought to
shore for
offloading
Coworker or
Supervisor
If plant fragments are
still observed in water or
at loading or storage
site, repeat the control
measure as often as
possible and have more
than one person perform
if possible.
General
Prevention
Procedures for
Stopping Aquatic
Hitchhikers from
www.protectyour
waters.net.
Task #3
If alone, periodically check
for fragments. If possible,
have another person(s)
collecting plants & plant
fragments during/after
harvesting.
Plants
As many persons as
possible should visually
scan the work area and
collect all plants & fragments
during and after harvesting.
Keep plants contained on
boat.
In water
Visually
inspect
Task #4
Keep all plants contained
while in transit to shore.
Check ground area after
loading vehicle and where
plants may be stored
before removal. Dispose
of targets and non-targets
properly.
Invertebrates,
Plants
Keep plants contained on
boat as much as possible.
Check the area at least
twice around the vehicle or
any storage areas after
loading, putting target &
non-target plants back in
vehicle.
On boat,
in water,
and at
water
access
Visually
inspect
Task #5
Visually inspect all scuba
gear, boat, and gear for
targets & non-targets and
properly discard anything
found. Follow ANSTF
clean, drain guidelines for
Boaters and Scuba
Divers.
Vertebrates,
Invertebrates,
Plants, Other
Organisms
Clean: Inspect and clean off
visible aquatic plants,
animals, and mud from boat,
motor, trailer, gear, and
scuba gear before leaving
water access. Rinse boat
with (preferably hot, high
pressure) water, if possible.
Drain: water from boat and
motor before leaving water
access.
At water
access
Visually
inspect,
follow
ANSTF
guidelines –
clean,
drain
Every time
gear is
reloaded
after harvest
Coworker or
Supervisor
If any target or nontargets are found before
next use *, then repeat
the control measure
more than once and/or
have more than one
person perform. Use
more thorough
techniques for removal
of target & non-target
species.
* especially if
moving to another
waterbody in the
same day
9
HACCP Step 5 – HACCP Plan Form
(all CCP’s or “yes’s” from column 6 of HACCP Step 4 – Hazard Analysis Worksheet)
Monitoring
Critical
Control
Point
(CCP)
Significant
Hazard(s)
(Step 4,
Column 3)
Prescribed Limits for each
Control Measure (PRLC)
Where
How
Frequency
Who
Evaluation &
Corrective
Action(s)
(if control
measures fail)
Supporting
Documentation
(if any)
Make sure all targets are
contained in vehicle and
brought to an approved
location such as landfills,
compost areas, in reclaiming
spent gravel pits, or similar
sites. (Consult with
professionals having
expertise in aquatic invasive
species for approved
locations)
Before
leaving
site, in
transit,
and after
disposal
Visually
inspect
Every time
targets are
transported
by vehicle to
another
location
Coworker or
Supervisor
Check for complete
containment before and
during transport. If target
or non-target species
have re-established from
disposal site, consult
with more than one
expert for approved
locations every time
harvest is performed.
Aquatic Nuisance
Species Task
Force: Voluntary
Guidelines to
prevent the spread
of Aquatic Invasive
Species.
At
storage
area
Visually
inspect.
Follow
ANSTF
guidelines –
clean,
dry.
Every time
gear is
returned to
storage after
suction
harvest
Coworker or
Supervisor
Task #6
Completely contain all
plants and fragments in
vehicle and dispose of in
an approved location
away from possible reintroduction. After
disposal, inspect vehicle
for any target or nontarget species and
dispose of properly.
Vertebrates,
Invertebrates,
Plants, Other
Organisms
Task #7
Clean, drain, soak, and
dry all gear using ANSTF
guidelines for cleaning
scuba diving gear, boats,
and other equipment.
Vertebrates,
Invertebrates,
Plants, Other
Organisms
Clean: If not done at water
access, rinse boat with
(preferably hot, high
pressure) water, if possible.
Soak scuba gear for
saltwater dives in 5%
dishwashing liquid solution
(1 cup/gallon)^1 or for
freshwater dives in 3.5% (½
salt solution (½ cup /
gallon))^2 for 30 minutes.
Rinse inside and outside of
scuba gear with hot water.
Dry: for five or more days
before using boat or scuba
gear in different water body
OR wipe with towel before
re-use.
If any target or nontarget species found on
gear, boat, or vehicle,
then repeat the control
measure more than once
and/or have more than
one person perform.
Test cleaning solution for
proper concentration.
General
Prevention
Procedures for
Stopping Aquatic
Hitchhikers from
www.protectyour
waters.net
10