Risk assessment on the possible introduction of three predatory snails (Ocinebrellus inornatus, Urosalpinx cinerea, Rapana venosa in the Dutch Wadden Sea

Abstract

Recently three alien invasive predatory snails have been found in the Dutch marine waters, which are identified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality as potential high risk species due to their possible impact on bivalve species (TRCPD/2009/3587). These are: Japanese oyster drill Ocinebrellus inornatus (syn: Ceratostoma inornatum, Ocenebra japonica), American oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea and Asian rapa whelk Rapana venosa. In this report we describe the potential ecological and economical risks of introduction of the three alien invasive predatory snails in the Nature 2000 Wadden Sea area