Marine invasive alien species in Europe: 9 years after the IAS Regulation

Biological invasions, resulting from human activities, exert substantial impacts on ecosystems worldwide. This review focuses on marine invasive alien species (IAS) in Europe, examining the current state, proposing strategies to address the problem, and offering recommendations for enhanced management. Effective management of biological invasions relies on accessible, accurate data to inform decision-making. Information systems such as the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), Aquatic Non-Indigenous and Cryptogenic Species (AquaNIS), and World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WriMS) provide comprehensive databases on IAS, but their sustainability requires long-term maintenance, continuous updates, and support. Most countries lack specific monitoring programs for marine IAS, and standardization and improvement of monitoring methods are needed. Port monitoring plays a vital role in the early detection of new arrivals, and recent advancements in molecular techniques show promise for effective IAS monitoring. Risk screening tools are commonly employed to rank taxa based on their invasiveness potential in European regions, but variations in protocols can yield inconsistent results. European impact assessments highlight resource competition, novel habitat creation, and predation as primary mechanisms for negative impacts on biodiversity, while the creation of novel habitats represents a key mechanism for positive impacts. Preventing IAS introductions is critical, and measures such as ballast water treatment systems are implemented to reduce the likelihood of marine introductions. However, understanding introduction pathways remains uncertain for many IAS. Eradication and control efforts for marine IAS have limited success, emphasizing the need for enhanced biosecurity measures. Climate change, especially ocean warming, can intensify IAS impacts on native species and ecosystems. In climate change hotspots, some tropical aliens may, however, compensate for the loss of thermally sensitive natives with similar traits. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the interactions between climate change and IAS in developing effective management and conservation strategies. Enhancing IAS management in Europe entails i) securing adequate funding, ii) expanding the list of IAS of Union Concern to adequately cover marine invasions, iii) learning from countries with successful biosecurity practices, iv) sustaining information systems, v) improving monitoring and early warning systems with innovative technologies, vi) enhancing prediction models, vii) conducting integrated impact assessments and mapping cumulative IAS impacts, and vii) considering the potential benefits of IAS in ecosystem functioning and services

Ålegræs - Guideline til udpegning af optimale storskala udplantningsområder

Rapporten er en kortfattet gennemgang af udpegningsproccessen for ålegræsgenopretning. Anbefalingerne er erfaringsbaserede med baggrund i udplantninger i danske fjorde og kystområder. Formålet har været at sikre højest mulige succes via en blanding af metodiske processer fra model/GIS-analyser af kyststrækninger, som yderligere kvalificeres ved drone-analyser og dykker-observationer inden der gennemføres test-transplantationer som endeligt udpegningsgrundlag.Rapporten er en kortfattet gennemgang af udpegningsproccessen for ålegræsgenopretning. Anbefalingerne er erfaringsbaserede med baggrund i udplantninger i danske fjorde og kystområder. Formålet har været at sikre højest mulige succes via en blanding af metodiske processer fra model/GIS-analyser af kyststrækninger, som yderligere kvalificeres ved drone-analyser og dykker-observationer inden der gennemføres test-transplantationer som endeligt udpegningsgrundlag

Forhold af betydning for naturgenopretning af stenrev

Rapporten beskriver hvad naturlige stenrev er, hvor de findes og hvor man historisk har udført stenfiskeri. Vigtigheden af vandkvalitet samt fysiske og biologiske forhold for livet på naturlige stenrev i danske farvande gennemgås. Endelig sammenstiller rapporten de forskellige økosystemydelser som er knyttet til stenrev og leverer vigtige overordnede anbefalinger.Rapporten beskriver hvad naturlige stenrev er, hvor de findes og hvor man historisk har udført stenfiskeri. Vigtigheden af vandkvalitet samt fysiske og biologiske forhold for livet på naturlige stenrev i danske farvande gennemgås. Endelig sammenstiller rapporten de forskellige økosystemydelser som er knyttet til stenrev og leverer vigtige overordnede anbefalinger

Status and trends in the rate of introduction of marine non-indigenous species in European seas

Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lists verified records of non-indigenous species (NIS) in European marine waters until 2020, with the purpose of establishing a baseline, assessing trends, and discussing appropriate threshold values for good environmental status (GES) according to the relevant European legislation. All NIS records were verified by national experts and trends are presented in six-year assessment periods from 1970 to 2020 according to the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Altogether, 874 NIS have been introduced to European marine waters until 2020 with the Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean hosting most of the introductions. Overall, the number of new introductions has steadily increased since 2000. The annual rate of new introductions reached 21 new NIS in European seas within the last six-year assessment period (2012–2017). This increase is likely due to increased human activities and research efforts that have intensified during the early 21st century within European Seas. As Europe seas are not environmentally, nor geographically homogenous, the setting of threshold values for assessing GES requires regional expertise. Further, once management measures are operational, pathway-specific threshold values would enable assessing the effectiveness of such measures

Status and trends in the rate of introduction of marine non-indigenous species in European seas

Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lists verified records of non-indigenous species (NIS) in European marine waters until 2020, with the purpose of establishing a baseline, assessing trends, and discussing appropriate threshold values for good environmental status (GES) according to the relevant European legislation. All NIS records were verified by national experts and trends are presented in six-year assessment periods from 1970 to 2020 according to the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Altogether, 874 NIS have been introduced to European marine waters until 2020 with the Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean hosting most of the introductions. Overall, the number of new introductions has steadily increased since 2000. The annual rate of new introductions reached 21 new NIS in European seas within the last six-year assessment period (2012–2017). This increase is likely due to increased human activities and research efforts that have intensified during the early 21st century within European Seas. As Europe seas are not environmentally, nor geographically homogenous, the setting of threshold values for assessing GES requires regional expertise. Further, once management measures are operational, pathway-specific threshold values would enable assessing the effectiveness of such measures