Classification of non-indigenous species based on their impacts: Considerations for application in marine management

Assessment of the ecological and economic/societal impacts of the introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of the primary focus areas of bioinvasion science in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and is considered essential to management. A classification system of NIS, based on the magnitude of their environmental impacts, was recently proposed to assist management. Here, we consider the potential application of this classification scheme to the marine environment, and offer a complementary framework focussing on value sets in order to explicitly address marine management concerns. Since existing data on marine NIS impacts are scarce and successful marine removals are rare, we propose that management of marine NIS adopt a precautionary approach, which not only would emphasise preventing new incursions through pre-border and at-border controls but also should influence the categorisation of impacts. The study of marine invasion impacts requires urgent attention and significant investment, since we lack the luxury of waiting for the knowledge base to be acquired before the window of opportunity closes for feasible management

The enlargement of the Suez Canal and introduction of non-indigenous species to the Mediterranean Sea

The Suez Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world – during the last year 17,148 ships passed through the Canal – reducing emissions, saving time, and operating costs to shippers. The rapid increase in ship size from the “Post-Suezmax” (> 12,000 TEU) to the latest container vessels (> 19,000 TEU) now requires enlargements of port facilities and canals. A project of this magnitude, and with potentially negative environmental outcomes, requires a transparent and scientifically sound “Environmental Impact Assessment” (EIA). An explicit obligation on Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (https://www.cbd.int/doc/ legal/cbd-en.pdf) was made to consider transboundary impacts on biodiversity, particularly those associated with invasive non-indigenous species

'Double trouble': the expansion of the Suez Canal and marine bioinvasions in the Mediterranean Sea

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Kartlegging og overvåking av fremmede skadelige arter i Norge

Å kartlegge og overvåke fremmede skadelige arter medfører ulike utfordringer avhengig av om man opererer i terrestrisk, limnisk eller marint miljø. Målet med prosjektet har vært å peke på hva som er hovedutfordringene i de tre naturmiljøene når introduksjoner av fremmede arter skal registreres og senere overvåkes. For hvert naturmiljø er de to viktigste vektorene for introduksjoner valgt ut til grundigere behandling. Forslag til registrerings- og overvåkings­aktiviteter knyttet både opp mot eksisterende overvåkingsprogrammer og forslag til nye aktiviteter er presentert. Handlingsplaner og tiltak er kun kommentert i generelle vendinger

Climate change opens new frontiers for marine species in the Arctic: Current trends and future invasion risks

Climate change and increased anthropogenic activities are expected to elevate the potential of introducing nonindigenous species (NIS) into the Arctic. Yet, the knowledge base needed to identify gaps and priorities for NIS research and management is limited. Here, we reviewed primary introduction events to each ecoregion of the marine Arctic realm to identify temporal and spatial patterns, likely source regions of NIS, and the putative introduction pathways. We included 54 introduction events representing 34 unique NIS. The rate of NIS discovery ranged from zero to four species per year between 1960 and 2015. The Iceland Shelf had the greatest number of introduction events (n = 14), followed by the Barents Sea (n = 11), and the Norwegian Sea (n = 11). Sixteen of the 54 introduction records had no known origins. The majority of those with known source regions were attributed to the Northeast Atlantic and the Northwest Pacific, 19 and 14 records, respectively. Some introduction events were attributed to multiple possible pathways. For these introductions, vessels transferred the greatest number of aquatic NIS (39%) to the Arctic, followed by natural spread (30%) and aquaculture activities (25%). Similar trends were found for introductions attributed to a single pathway. The phyla Arthropoda and Ochrophyta had the highest number of recorded introduction events, with 19 and 12 records, respectively. Recommendations including vector management, horizon scanning, early detection, rapid response, and a pan‐Arctic biodiversity inventory are considered in this paper. Our study provides a comprehensive record of primary introductions of NIS for marine environments in the circumpolar Arctic and identifies knowledge gaps and opportunities for NIS research and management. Ecosystems worldwide will face dramatic changes in the coming decades due to global change. Our findings contribute to the knowledge base needed to address two aspects of global change—invasive species and climate change

Stillehavsøsters i Norden. Datainnsamling og bestandsvurderinger som grunnlag for forvaltning og høsting av nordiske bestander av stillehavsøsters, Crassostrea gigas

publishedVersio

Stillehavsøsters i Norden. Datainnsamling og bestandsvurderinger som grunnlag for forvaltning og høsting av nordiske bestander av stillehavsøsters, Crassostrea gigas

publishedVersio

‘Double trouble’: the expansion of the Suez Canal and marine bioinvasions in the Mediterranean Sea

‘Double trouble’: the expansion of the Suez Canal and marine bioinvasions in the Mediterranean Se