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Invasive species often move from one place to another in unexpected ways. A recent study from the University of Connecticut found that the worms fishermen purchase for bait on Long Island Sound sometimes are packaged with non-native organisms that could hurt the ecosystem.

When recreational fishermen buy worms for bait they often come packed in seaweed from the Gulf of Maine. University of Connecticut Marine Biologist Charlie Yarish studied the seaweed from bait shops in New York and Connecticut. In more than half of the samples he found in with the seaweed harmful microscopic algae that’s not native to Long Island Sound.

“Of the many that we did find two are noted to produce toxic algal blooms."

One harmful algal bloom is known as red tide. That’s when toxic algae reproduces rapidly and fish and shellfish consume it.
Although the shellfish may not be harmed people who consume the oysters and clams that have eaten the algae can get very sick.

Nancy Balcom of Connecticut Seagrant says her group is working with the state to post signs in bait shops and marinas advising fishermen not to throw the seaweed over the side of their boats.

“To just dispose of the seaweed in the trash and prevent the possible introduction of something that we don’t have in the Sound already, some new species that we may not want to have living in the Sound.”

Balcom says if non-native organisms like this are introduced into the Sound and become established they could reach a level known as 'invasive' which means they’re harmful to the environment, human health or the economy.