“It’s all about stewardship. We are all responsible,” Power said in his office in the Shellfish Research Lab at the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service on the campus of the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.

Power earned a bachelor’s degree in 1996 and a doctorate in 2000 from the National University of Ireland, Galway. While working on his graduate degree, he met his wife, Courtney, who was visiting Ireland with the Tufts University exchange program.

While still in Ireland, Power met Randy Walker, director of the Marine Extension Service, who is responsible for the units in Savannah, Brunswick, Atlanta and Athens.

Was it luck that landed this Irishman in Savannah?

Who knows, but his efforts could certainly be lucky for Savannah and its waterways. The threat can be reduced. As critical as the issue is, it’s not beyond repair — and prevention.

Is he saying that we cause the problem? And, if so, is there something we can do about it? Yes and yes.

“It’s all about not moving water,” he said. Power explained, for example, how people can unwittingly introduce invasive species into the environment by dumping water, plants, fish or other organisms from fish tanks into or near a waterway, storm drain or sewer system.

Boaters can add to the problem if they don’t properly clean their boat’s hull and drain bilge before leaving a waterway, he explained.

Let’s say you used your boat while vacationing in Florida and then brought it back home and docked it at Isle of Hope.

By not following preventive measures, you could be introducing an invasive species into our waterways.

According to Power, there are ways you can contain and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species:

• Discard bait, seafood products and containers in the trash or compost.

• Avoid buying non-native species at pet or aquarium stores.

• Use only native species in your garden, and dry or freeze plants prior to disposal.

• Use native bait or artificial lures when fishing.

• Participate in education programs and citizen monitoring programs (www.shellfish.uga.edu).

Power grew up “playing in the waves, poking things in tide pools, exploring caves and throwing seaweed at my sister.”

“I’ve always loved the ocean,” he said. “I would stay in until I turned blue and wrinkly, and my mom had to come get me out.”

He did all of this — and watched whales, too, from beaches along the Atlantic Ocean near his childhood home of Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland.

Today, he’s a watchdog for our own coastline — and the fragile ecosystem it supports. And that really does make us the lucky ones.