January 30, 2017 by Alan Williams
Accidental introductions of
non-native species has been of increasing concern since the 1980s when
human-mediated transportation, mainly related to ships' ballast water, was recognised
as a major route by which species are transported and spread.
A review just published by PML
Applications Ltd (the wholly-owned subsidiary of Plymouth Marine Laboratory,
PML) and the University of Plymouth, brings together and updates evidence on invasive
species for the
NE and SW Atlantic Ocean, in order to assess the risk represented by the
shipping trade between these two regions.
The study found that the pathways
most frequently recorded as transporting invasive species are ballast water and
biofouling for both regions, while aquaculture has also been a very significant
route of introduction and spread of invasive species in the NE Atlantic. It
also established that the number of non-native species that
have become invasive with high ecological impacts are 44 in the NE Atlantic and
15 in the less well studied south-western Atlantic.
Cecilia de Castro, lead author of
the review, commented:
"This study comes at a
pertinent time, providing further evidence to highlight the importance of the
IMO Ballast Water Convention, which has recently reached 35 per cent of world
merchant shipping tonnage and will enter into force on 8/09/2017. Though
countries such as the UK have yet to sign up, the convention remains a landmark
step towards halting the spread of invasive aquatic species, which can damage
biodiversity and local ecosystems, as well as potential economic
problems."
Non-native species are a crucial
issue that needs to be addressed to raise general awareness and publicity,
alongside scientific surveys and monitoring, improved data availability,
regulations, management tools, risk assessment, stakeholders' commitment,
enforcement, best practices and constant surveillance.
For example, Chinese mitten crabs
are officially listed as one of the World's 100 worst invasive species. They
can cause damage to fishing gear and river banks, block intake screens, modify
natural habitats and compete with native species, and it is this economic and
ecological damage that makes this crab such an unwelcome arrival.
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