The primary goal of the survey is the prevention of establishment of target non-native snail and slug species known or suspected as being threats to the agricultural industries of washington state and…

The State of Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) received a $125,000 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The award funds a comprehensive survey program designed to prevent the establishment of target non-native snail and slug species that pose significant threats to Washington State's agricultural industries and U.S. agriculture broadly. WSDA will conduct routine visual surveys at high-likelihood introduction sites such as ports, provide continued delimitation and eradication support at known introduction points and proximal areas, and perform widespread visual surveys in regions with suitable environmental conditions for target pest species.

The deliverables and expected outcomes include maintaining Washington State's pest-free status through early detection and possible eradication of economically important mollusk pests, protecting the state from destructive mollusk species, and enabling the continued unregulated export of commodities to international markets. The intended beneficiaries are farmers, shippers, and exporters within the agricultural sector. No subrecipient activities were specified at the time of award.

Activities

Due to the combined risks of abundant introduction pathways, known introduction events requiring further monitoring, and widespread suitable establishment conditions, the approach of this survey will be threefold: 1) routine visual surveys at high-likelihood introduction sites such as ports, 2) continued delimitation and eradication support at points of known introductions and proximal areas, and 3) widespread visual surveys in regions of suitable environmental conditions for target species. Deliverables and expected outcomes: 1) the pest free status of washington state will be maintained by early detection and possible; eradication of an economically important group of mollusk pests; 2) washington state will be protected from an important group of destructive mollusk pests; 3) the survey will help maintain the unregulated export of commodities from washington state to international markets. Intended beneficiary(IES): farmers, shippers, exporters. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: N/a