1 The Management of Invasive Species in Marine & Coastal Environments Module 2 Goals & Principles of Invasive Species Management

2 Module 2 Objectives Outline the goals and basic principles of IAS management and how they apply to marine and coastal environments Outline the goals and basic principles of IAS management and how they apply to marine and coastal environments Describe the steps in IAS management Describe the steps in IAS management Indicate the points at which management action can be applied Indicate the points at which management action can be applied

3 Management Goals Specific goals of management actions Specific goals of management actions Underlying goals, desired outcomes Underlying goals, desired outcomes

4 Specific Goals of Management Actions Prevent or minimise introductions Prevent of minimise chances of establishment and spread Eradicate or control existing populations of invasives

5 Specific Goals of Management Actions WHY?

6 Underlying Goals Conserve/ protect marine & coastal resources & associated industries Conserve/ protect marine & coastal resources & associated industries Conserve local biodiversity Conserve local biodiversity The ultimate goal of IAS management is to minimise threats to biodiversity, human health & welfare and economies.

7 General Management Principles The Precautionary Approach The Precautionary Approach The Hierarchical Approach The Hierarchical Approach The Ecosystem Approach The Ecosystem Approach Sharing of Information Sharing of Information User Pays Principle User Pays Principle Cross-Sectoral Approach to Management Cross-Sectoral Approach to Management

8 The Precautionary Approach “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” (Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992)

9 The Precautionary Approach Given the difficulties in : Predicting invasiveness Predicting invasiveness Regulating pathways Regulating pathways Managing introduced species Managing introduced species When do you think the precautionary principle should be applied?

10 The Precautionary Approach should be applied to: Decisions to intentionally introduce any species, but especially those known to be invasive elsewhere Decisions to intentionally introduce any species, but especially those known to be invasive elsewhere Decisions on which management measures to impose on pathways of unintentional introductions Decisions on which management measures to impose on pathways of unintentional introductions Decisions on eradication, containment and control measures being applied to alien species that have already become established Decisions on eradication, containment and control measures being applied to alien species that have already become established

11 Steps in the Hierarchical Approach Zebra mussel Prevention Prevention Early detection & rapid response Early detection & rapid response Eradication Eradication Containment Containment Long term control Long term control

12 The Hierarchical Approach Prevention is better than the cure! Zebra mussel Once a species has established, it can be near impossible to remove, and very expensive to control Once a species has established, it can be near impossible to remove, and very expensive to control

13 Obstacles to Prevention Prevention is better than the cure! Zebra mussel What do you think might be some of the obstacles to the implementation of prevention measures? What do you think might be some of the obstacles to the implementation of prevention measures?

14 Obstacles to Prevention Prevention is better than the cure! Zebra mussel Lack of awareness Lack of awareness Lack of vision to take pre-emptive measures Lack of vision to take pre-emptive measures Lack of capacity Lack of capacity Lack of funds Lack of funds

15 The Ecosystem Approach “Ecosystem” means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit The ecosystem approach calls for integrated & equitable management of resources Examples?

16 Sharing of Information Development of inventories and databases including species (native & introduced) distribution data Development of inventories and databases including species (native & introduced) distribution data Incident lists and case studies Incident lists and case studies Potential threats to neighbouring countries Potential threats to neighbouring countries Information on taxonomy, ecology and genetics of IAS Information on taxonomy, ecology and genetics of IAS Prevention and control methods where available Prevention and control methods where available National and regional guidelines National and regional guidelines National requirements/regulations regarding intentional introductions, such as imported species National requirements/regulations regarding intentional introductions, such as imported species National requirements/regulations regarding unintentional vectors, such as ballast water controls National requirements/regulations regarding unintentional vectors, such as ballast water controls Types of information to be shared:

17 User Pays Principle Shipping Industry Mariculture operations

18 Cross-Sectoral Approach to Management Environmental administrations Environmental administrations Quarantine, border and port authorities Quarantine, border and port authorities Health & safety administrations Health & safety administrations Transport administrations Transport administrations Agriculture, forestry and fisheries managers Agriculture, forestry and fisheries managers Trade administrations Trade administrations Scientific institutions Scientific institutions Non-governmental organisations Non-governmental organisations Local communities Local communities Examples of Stakeholders include:

19 Application of Management Measures Sites of application: Pre-border Pre-border –(before it leaves a country or en route) Border Border –( before it enters a country ) Post-border Post-border –( within a country )

20 Pre-Border Management What do you think might be examples of pre-border management for: What do you think might be examples of pre-border management for: a) Intentional introductions? a) Intentional introductions? b) Unintentional introductions? b) Unintentional introductions?

21 Pre-Border Management Intentional introductions – Intentional introductions – - Environmental Impact Assessment, Risk Assessment - Environmental Impact Assessment, Risk Assessment Unintentional introductions Unintentional introductions –E.g. Ballast water exchange, treatment

22 Border Management Hull inspections, verification of records, mitigation procedures. Hull fouling Assessing compliance with ballast water treatment/ management procedures, inspection of treatment equipment, water sampling. Ballast water Unintentional Introductions: Assessing compliance with import permit requirements, including quarantine and treatment measures, verification of species identity etc. Mariculture and aquarium species Intentional Introductions: Associated Border ActivityVector Type

23 Post-Border Management Early detection, Rapid Response Early detection, Rapid Response Eradication Eradication Control and mitigation Control and mitigation

24 Management Examples Regular port surveys, monitoring, eradication, control and mitigation. Surveys and monitoring, eradication, control and mitigation. Post-border Assessment of compliance, open-ocean exchange records, equipment inspection, water sampling. Inspection of permits, assess compliance with permit conditions, taxonomic identification, quarantine procedures Border Management of uptake, treatment en route, open- ocean exchange. EIA, permit requirements, treatment prior to export from country of origin. Pre-border Unintentional Introduction:Ballast water Intentional Introduction: Mariculture Point of intervention

25 Creating a Supporting Environment Legal & Institutional Issues Legal & Institutional Issues Promoting best practice management Promoting best practice management Awareness raising Awareness raising Codes of Practice Contingency Plans

26 A coastal fishing company has applied for a permit to import species X for mariculture purposes. The species is easy to breed; it grows quickly, can be fed cheaply and offers a high return on investment. The importing of this species has been supported by a number of political, industrial And community sectors as a solution to solving the problem of food shortage in the country and as a means of developing coastal towns by offering employment to the local community. The fishing company and the national department for trade & industry and the department of social development wants to fast-track the importing of this species as they feel any delays will cost both the company and the country. When answering the questions,forget your personal opinions and your own position; in other words ROLE PLAY. How would you respond to the permit application as a member of: The Ports Authority The Ports Authority The Department of Environmental affairs The Department of Environmental affairs The Local Community The Local Community The Local Scientific community? The Local Scientific community? When answering the question, consider the following A. The best recourse against invasion is prevention and precaution, therefore which precautionary measures would you insist be implemented? precautionary measures would you insist be implemented? B. Should anyone be held liable if any escapes occur or if something else goes wrong? If so, who would that be? who would that be? C. Should treatment measures be implemented? If so, which can you insist on? D. Would you insist on any research or scientific information? If so, what information would you need?

27 2. The local community harvests intertidal algae for agar. They are concerned by the sudden appearance of something different on the shore; they have reported their concerns to you, as the local representative of the national department of environmental affairs. Although this species has a similar appearance to the species harvested, it effectively yields no agar. The species has been on the shore for a number of months but appears to be out-competing the harvested species and is becoming dense and spreading to neighbouring areas. The local community has therefore seen less financial gain from harvesting in the past few months. 2. The local community harvests intertidal algae for agar. They are concerned by the sudden appearance of something different on the shore; they have reported their concerns to you, as the local representative of the national department of environmental affairs. Although this species has a similar appearance to the species harvested, it effectively yields no agar. The species has been on the shore for a number of months but appears to be out-competing the harvested species and is becoming dense and spreading to neighbouring areas. The local community has therefore seen less financial gain from harvesting in the past few months. A. What kind of response can you think of for eradicating this algal species? A. What kind of response can you think of for eradicating this algal species? B. If you cannot respond, what other recourse do you have? B. If you cannot respond, what other recourse do you have? C. How would you involve the local community in the treatment and the management of this invasion? C. How would you involve the local community in the treatment and the management of this invasion?