Parnu Workshop, March 2000

Risks from potentially hazardous species introductions are regarded as an increasing problem of global concern with consequences to ecosystems and the sustainable use of coastal resources.
The above mentioned working group worked in close co-operation with representatives from inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), especially with the Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO) and the ICES/IOC/IMO Study Group on Ballast Water and Sediments (SGBWS).
At its last meeting in the facilities of the port of Parnu the working group met for one day in conjunction with the WGITMO. At the following two days presentations were given including updates on recently undertaken research activities (see Agenda).
The working group anonymously appointed Dr. Stephan Gollasch (Institute for Marine Sciences, Kiel, Germany) as new convenor of the BMB NEMO since the end of 1999. The former convenor Dr. Sergej Olenin, Klaipeda University, Lithuania will from now on act as co-chairman together with Prof. Dr. Erkki Leppäkoski, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Several presentations were given during the meeting. Abstracts are attached.

• Competition for food between exotic polychaete Marenzelleria viridis and native amphipod Monoporeia affinis. J. Kotta
• Revision about recent invasions of macrozoobenthic species in Estonian coastal sea. J. Kotta
• Dynamics of Cercopagis pengoi population in the Baltic and North American Great Lakes. H. Ojaveer

The following terms of references (TORs) were discussed:

• agreed to improve and expand the Klaipeda database on introduced species as they occur (see attachment 8). The database contains a list of 99 species as the current up to date list of introduced species in the Baltic and adjacent waters (drainage area) as well as information on taxonomic, common names (in different languages), ecological group, year of first record, likely vector of introduction, origin and references to information source. The database is maintained by Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Klaipeda University, Lithuania.
• agreed further to develop detailed reports of introduced species to be added to the Klaipeda database. These reports include detailed information on the species considered, its distribution, possible vectors of introduction, and potential impacts. Detailed reports on nearly half of these species were prepared in the past. It was agreed that efforts should be undertaken to add detailed reports of species presently not covered by detailed reports.
• agreed further to publish the Klaipeda database as a printed document. Final progress was made towards the publication of all introduced species listed in the Klaipeda database. The book will be prepared shortly and it will provide information to a wide audience including scientists, managers and other users of aquatic resources. For the printed publication detailed reports of each species are limited to two pages including maps on the distribution along the coasts of the Baltic as well as a line drawings of the species to ease the identification. The cited literature will be added as a separated chapter in the end of the book.
• noted that wherever possible close cooperation of research efforts within members of the group should be made in order to prevent double work, to optimize project results and to enable an optimum in knowledge transfer.
• agreed further to prepare annually reports which should contain detailed information on e.g. newly found introduced species, laws and regulations relevant to species introductions, such as quarantine measures and guidelines to treat the ballast water of ships, impacts caused by introduced species (see attachment 7). The reports to be prepared will be entitled as national reports (please send your National Report after completion to Sergej Olenin).
• emphasized the need to create a network of institutions and researchers relevant to the field of species introductions in the Baltic Sea region and adjacent waters (working title ”BALNET”).
• further pointed out that a public awareness campaign is needed to increase the knowledge on negative impacts associated to species introductions. The campaign should make available relevant information to the public, researchers and other interested bodies by the preparation of posters as well as handouts to be displayed in relevant exhibitions and institutions. Posters will be prepared shortly providing detailed information of recently introduced species, such as the water flea Cercopagis pengoi, the fish Neogobius melanostomus, the jellyfish Maeotias inexpectata, the macro alga Sargassum muticum. Negative impacts of invaders occurred after the further spread of the previously introduced Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the ship worm Teredo navalis and will be covered with additional posters. The existing Internet homepage of the BMB NEMO should include curriculum vitae (see attachment 6) of all active members of the group (to be developed). Hyperlinks should be inserted guiding the reader to other relevant homepages documenting the research activities of the group members. Most of the group members prepared entries of the above mentioned Klaipeda database what should be assessable via additional hyperlinks in the curriculum vitae
• prepared a press release as part of an awareness campaign relevant to the topic of species introductions and associated impacts. The Press Release will be available on the working group homepage soon (see Attachment 1)
• noted further that costs calculations to compensate the negative effects of introduced (e.g. fouling and wood-boring) species in Europe are lacking. Solving this would enable cost benefit assessments of treatment options minimizing future species introductions.
• pointed out the need to expand the existing HELCOM warning systems on abnormal events to include records of introduced species.
• empasized that not only ballast water, but tanks sediments and hull fouling of ships are vectors of concern for future species introductions.
• finally noted that the work of the above mentioned working groups is complimentary to each other without any overlapping and is of mutual interest for all groups. Effective future cooperation cannot be guaranteed by correspondence alone and therefore it is recommended to continue the work separately. In order to enable effective exchange of information between the groups it is recommended to arrange, wherever possible, further joint meetings of both groups.

The increasing rate of species introductions with severe impacts to environment and economy in the end of the last century indicate the importance to actively act in this field. Regional approaches in order to minimize or prevent future introductions as well as to slow down the spread of already introduced species are of high importance. The BMB NEMO provides an excellent forum and established net work along the Baltic coasts. In order not to loose the momentum it was recommended to continue the work of the NEMO.
It is recommended to arrange the next meeting not before the end of the year 2000.

Risks from aliens an increasing problem

Key words: Baltic Sea, marine environment, shipping, exotic species.
Shipping studies have shown that each single vessel carries millions of organisms in her ballast tanks and therefore poses a high potential for future species introductions.
Risks from potentially hazardous species introductions are regarded as an increasing problem of global concern with consequences to ecosystems and the sustainable use of coastal resources.
Knowing that each single introduced species may cause severe harm to environment and economy emphasises the need to develop safe (for crew and ships), effective, and environmentally sound treatment options for ballast water. Beside ballast water, tank sediment and hull fouling on the outside of the ships are additional vectors to successfully introduce species. Another important vector of species introductions is aquaculture business as long as live species imports are needed and quarantine measures are not followed carefully.
The development of detailed reports on several of the known 99 introduced species in the Baltic are stored in the Klaipeda database. The database contains an up to date list of introduced species.
A public awareness campaign is needed to increase the knowledge on negative impacts associated to species introductions. The campaign should make available relevant information to the public, researchers and other interested bodies by the preparation of posters as well as handouts to be displayed in relevant exhibitions and institutions.
Early warning systems, especially to inform neighboring countries on outbreaks of e.g. harmful algal blooms and disease agents are needed, enabling authorities to take appropriate precautionary measures, such as prohibition of shellfish farming and closing of beaches for the public.
Most of the 99 known non-indigenous species in the Baltic have been introduced in the second part of the last century.
Without taking any minimizing measures or precautionary approaches the un-intentional introductions of species will continue. Scientific trials have shown that potentially all habitats are open for introductions.

This press release was prepared during the last meeting of the Baltic Marine Biologists (BMB), Working Group 30 Non-indigenous Estuarine and Marine Organisms (NEMOs) held in Parnu (Estonia), the 30th of March 2000. Participating countries were: Estonia, Germany, Finland., Lithuania, Poland, Russia. The above mentioned working group operated in close co-operation with representatives from inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), especially with the Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO) and the ICES/IOC/IMO Study Group on Ballast Water and Sediments (SGBWS).
For further information, please contact the convenor (Stephan Gollasch, Germany) via e-mail: sgollasch@aol.com.

The active members of the BMB NEMO group are (in alphabetical order):

1. Darius Daunys
2. Elena Ezhova
3. Stephan Gollasch
4. Piotr Gruzska
5. Susanna Hajdu
6. Elena Karasjova
7. Erkki Leppäkoski
8. Henn Ojaveer
9. Sergej Olenin
10. Marina Orlova
11. Vadim Panov
12. Krzsystof Sköra
13. Inger Wallentinus

Agenda

Wednesday 29^th March 2000 (day of arrival)
14.00 h to 15.30 h

Opening Session (J. T. Carlton, E. Leppäkoski)

-Welcoming and introducing comments (5 mins)
-Introduction of participants (max. 1 mins/person = max. 25 mins).
-History and perspective of the ICES and the WGITMO, incl. a presentation on the ICES WGITMO ”Code of Practice” (J. T. Carlton) (10 mins)
-History and perspective of the BMB (S. Olenin) (5 mins)
-History and perspective of the BMB NEMOs (E. Leppäkoski) (5 mins)

National Reports

Each participating country from both working groups is pleased to compile information relevant to the issue and present this in a brief statement. Include - amongst other headings – new records of introduced species in ICES and BMB member countries incl. remarkable comments on previously introduced species (e.g. secondary spread, mass occurrences, treatment strategies etc) (not longer than 2,5 mins/country = max. 45 mins)

15.35 h to 15.50 h Afternoon coffee break

15.50 h to 17.00 h

Legislations/Guidelines on Treatment and Management of Ballast Water (Canada, USA, J. Carlton) (10 mins)

Results of international projects
-The EU CA (S. Gollasch) (5 mins)
-IMO workshop in Black Sea (S. Gollasch, S. Olenin) (5 mins)
-IMOs GEF Project (S. Gollasch) (15 mins)

Future Research Priorities

-Group discussion: Options for co-operation between WGITMO and BMB member countries. Defining research needs and fields of cooperation (30 mins)
-INTAS plan (V. Panov, S. Gollasch) (5 mins)
-Development of ERNAIS (V. Panov)
-Summing up (J. T. Carlton, E. Leppäkoski) (10 mins)

17.00 h adjourn

19.00 h group dinner or individual
Option to join the ”dinner-meeting” of the ICES working group

Thursday 30^th March 2000

9.00 h to 10.30 h

Opening Session (E. Leppäkoski)
Welcoming and introducing comments
Review of the agenda including corrections, changes and additions (S. Gollasch)

Organisational issues

- WG convenership (E. Leppäkoski, S. Olenin)
- Detailed discussion on terms of reference and the future of the BMB NEMOs (E. Leppäkoski, S. Olenin, S. Gollasch)

The Klaipeda database

- Publishing of case histories of introduced species as a BMB publication 17, incl. CACHs book and the Australian folder on introduced species(S. Gollasch)
- Group discussion on extending the Klaipeda database. Organising and selection of target species for the second set of case histories. Volunteers welcome!!!

10.30 h to 11.00 h Morning coffee break

11.00 h to 12.30 h

Ongoing and finished projects
- new NIS in the Baltic (all participants)
-Revision about recent invasions of macrozoobenthic species in Estonian coastal sea. Jonne Kotta. (10 mins)
-Competition for food between exotic polychaete Marenzelleria viridis and native amphipod Monoporeia affinis. Jonne Kotta. (10 mins).
-Dynamics of Cercopagis pengoi population in Estonian waters. A. Põllumäe, M. Simm. (10-15 min).
- HELCOM 4th Period Assessment (S. Olenin)
- NMR (E. Leppäkoski)
- How to establish a net work between Baltic countries.
- European research Network on Aquatic Invasive Species (ERNAIS)
- Lessons from the recently finished EU CA (S. Gollasch)
- Murmansk seminar on alien species in European seas (V. Panov)
- Black Sea, Caspian and Aral (E. leppäkoski)
- Introduction to recent publications (incl. accepted ones), book, reports, videos etc

12.30 h to 13.30 h Lunch break

13.30 h to 15.00 h

New and planned projects
- INTAS plan (V. Panov, S. Gollasch)
- Ballast water research in Lithuania/Denmark (S. Olenin)
- ASLO conference and workshops in Copenhagen June 2000 (S. Gollasch)
- documentation and evaluation of economic impacts
- public awareness project (e.g. Display for exhibition at maritime museums, public aquaria, or natural history museums)

15.00 h to 15.30 h Afternoon coffee break

15.30 h to 17.00 h

Detailed discussion on BMB NEMOs TORs and recommendations
- Publication of printed version Klaipeda database on exotics in the Baltic Sea
- Options for working group field trip (tentatively scheduled for Friday afternoon, 31^st of March)
- Any other business (presentations welcome)
- Discussion, if annual ”National Report” would be useful
- Archive of CVs of the group members

17.00 h adjourn

Writing session of draft meeting report

19.00 h group dinner or individual

Friday 31^st March 2000

Internal meeting BMB NEMO group

9.00 h to 10.30 h

Writing session on meeting report
Discussion of draft meeting report within the group
Approval of recommendations

10.30 h to 11.00 h Morning coffee break
Group photo during morning coffee break

11.00 h to 13.00 h

Writing session on meeting report and sub-group work
Subgroup 1: Recommendations and writing of meeting report
Subgroup 2: List possible research projects (title and short abstract), collect ideas of the group

13.00 h

Presentation of final (draft) meeting report
Summing up

13.30 h Lunch break and adjourn

Abstracts

Interspecific competition for food between introduced polychaete Marenzelleria viridis and native amphipod Monoporeia affinis was studied in a laboratory experiment. Amphipods were kept in microcosms with sediment and continuous supply of cooled water for 2 months. M. viridis depressed the growth in adult amphipod length whereas juveniles were not affected. M. viridis had practically no influence on the mortality and weight increment of M. affinis. At higher amphipod densities M. viridis had no effect on M. affinis showing that intraspecific competition was stronger than interspecific competition. However, when food was not limiting the growth of M. affinis the values of juvenile length and weight were lower in the presence of M. viridis indicating also the interference competition between amphipods and polychaetes. The results of this experiment give a support to the hypothesis that the decline of amphipod densities in the field is due to the competitive interactions between M. viridis and M. affinis. We expect that the negative effect of M. viridis on the population of M. affinis will have drastic repercussions on higher trophic levels such as intermediate predators and fish species that rely benthic fauna as food resource. The overall community structure is also likely to change with some species gaining from bioturbating activities of the polychaete while others may reduce in abundance or disappear.

The invasion and distribution pattern of Dreissena polymorpha, Marenzelleria viridis and Orchestia cavimana were described. Dreissena polymorpha, a brackish water species of Ponto-Caspian origin, has established in more diluted parts of the Gulf of Riga and in a few localities of the Gulf of Finland. D. polymorpha has not been found in Väinameri archipelago sea. New findings of the species in the coastal area of the Gulf of Finland indicate that slow expansion of the distribution area of D. polymorpha is currently taking place. Originating from the warmer freshwater areas, the Gulf of Finland, however, is relatively hostile environment for the D. polymorpha. The population seems to be unstable and the species are likely to reproduce only in very favourable years. On the contrary, D. polymorpha is relatively common everywhere in the Gulf of Riga except in its middle part and at the southern coast of Saaremaa Island. The dispersion area earlier documented in the literature is fairly consistent with recent findings with the exception that D. polymorpha was also found on the flowering plants in the southern coastal sea off Saaremaa Island in the late 50s. The factors favouring the development of dense population of D. polymorpha are the lower salinity (< 5 psu) and higher trophic conditions (chl a values during spring bloom > 20 μg l^-1). In the areas of higher salinity (> 5 psu) lower filtration rates set the limits of its distribution and the species is probably outcompeted by M. edulis.
It was only in 1995 when M. viridis, the North American polychaete, was found in the northern part of the Gulf of Riga and Väinameri archipelago sea although the species has been present at the southern side of the gulf in 1990. Sudden expansion towards the north are explained by the higher temperatures in summer 1994 which resulted higher reproductive output of M. viridis and, hence, facilitated its invasion towards northern part of the gulf and Väinameri. The first observation of M. viridis in the northern coast of the Gulf of Finland dates already from 1990. On the other hand only one specimen, probably just an occasional visitor was recorded near Pühajõgi River, south-eastern coast of the Gulf of Finland in 1994. Since then this polychaete was not observed in the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland until 1997. Only some rare findings of M. viridis from the westernmost bays of the gulf suggest Väinameri archipelago sea as a donor region. Since then M. viridis slowly but steadily expands its distribution range towards the eastern parts of the Gulf of Finland being found nowadays as far as in Tallinn Bay. The population of M. viridis has not yet stabilised in the study area with an exception of the deepest areas of the Gulf of Riga where the polychaete has been found at low but constant numbers. The establishment of M. viridis has been more successful either at more eutrophied regions or at more uniform biotopes.
Talitrid amphipods have been previously recorded only in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. In the summer 1999 Orchestia cavimana was found for the first time on the Estonian coast corresponding to the extension of its Baltic distribution some 400 km. The talitrid amphipods were found on the exposed coast under wrack bed (Fucus vesiculosus). Single finding of O. cavimana on Estonian coast suggests that the species has been either introduced or transported here by the drifting algae. High biomass of the talitrid amphipods indicates that the species has formed permanent population in this region.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of Cercopagis pengoi population in the Baltic Sea is strongly dependent upon climatic conditions, mediated through abiotic parameters of the aquatic environment – water temperature and stability of the water column. In the Baltic Sea, C. pengoi population is more abundant in sheltered locations (e.g., Pärnu Bay in the NE part of the Gulf of Riga) than in open areas. The invertebrate was not found in environments characterised by strong current systems (e.g., archipelago in the western Estonia). In a cold summer, distribution area and population abundance of the cladoceran is remarkably smaller than in a warm summer. Development of Cercopagis population exhibits strong seasonality. Higher abundances (mean > 200 ind. m^-3 and max over 700 ind. m^-3) were recorded during the warm season - July-September, often with more than one abundance peaks per season. In the 1990’s, after the invasion of C. pengoi into the Gulf of Riga ecosystem, decrease in the abundance of Bosmina coregoni maritima was recorded. Higher densities of C. pengoi population (treshold about 10 ind. m^-3) resulted in selective predation pressure of herring (electivity index > 0.82) on its stock whereas C. pengoi abundances below this treshold did not result in predation by herring. Herring (Clupea harengus membras), smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), three- and nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius and Gasterosteus aculeatus, respectively), bleak (Alburnus alburnus) and, also, accidentally sprat (Sprattus sprattus), feed on this exotic species. Based on observations in the main feeding grounds during the essential feeding period in 1994-1998, the mean share of the waterflea in the diet of herring, smelt and two species of sticklebacks did not exceed 8%, but reached as high as 83% in case of bleak (by wet weight).
A study was conducted in Lake Ontario during September, 1999 to examine distribution, both horizontal and vertical, of Cercopagis pengoi. Epilimnetic densities were substantially higher than in the Baltic Sea reaching to ca 2500 ind . m^-3. In contrast to the Baltic Sea, abundances were higher in open areas than in coastal locations - a statistically significant relationship (a=0.05) was found between distance from shore and ln(abundance). Cercopagis abundance was remarkably lower in deep tows than in the epilimnion – roughly by a factor 3. At two stations, diurnal vertical migration of Cercopagis was studied. No evidence of diurnal migration was found; most of the Cercopagis population remained in the epilimnion, although some individuals were also distributed within the upper part of the seasonal thermocline. The proportion of both, alive individuals and found in colder water layers was marginal (below 3%).

Ojaveer, H., Põllumäe, A., Simm, M. and Lankov, A. Population dynamics and food-web interactions of Cercopagis pengoi in the northeastern part of the Baltic Sea (in prep.).
Ojaveer, H., Kuhns, L., Barbiero, R. and Tuchman, M. Distribution of Cercopagis pengoi in the Lake Ontario (in prep.).

Executive summary
A diversely interested marine scientist extensively experienced in introduced aquatic species and their impact on environment and economy. Dr. Gollasch was involved in the first European ship sampling programme on ballast water, tank sediments and ship hull fouling (1992-1996). His PhD is world-wide the first PhD thesis based on ship sampling of ballast tanks and hull fouling. Current involvement in an European Union financed Concerted Action Programme (see below). Due to the international aspect of introductions Dr. Gollasch became a member of several international working groups:
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO)
- International Maritime Organization (IMO), Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), Ballast Water Working Group (BWWG), German delegation.
- Baltic Marine Biologists (BMB) Working Group Non-Indigenous Estuarine and Marine Organisms (co-chairman, convenor)
- ICES Study Group on Marine Biocontrol of Invasive Species (SGMBIS)
- ICES Study Group on Ballast Water and Sediment (SGBWS)

Currently involved in the following studies:
European Concerted Action Study: Testing Monitoring Systems for Risk Assessment of Harmful Introductions by Ships to European Waters.

Abstract

Six European countries: Finland, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, United Kingdom (England and Scotland), Lithuania and several experts from elsewhere (e.g. North America, some Mediterranean Countries, Australia and Asia) are involved in the Concerted Action recently funded by the EU. The IMO (International Maritime Organization) is also a partner of this study. The EU project is linked with ICES WGITMO and ICES/IOC/IMO SGBWS for the duration of the project. The study is being co-ordinated by Germany. The main objective of this Concerted Action is to compare and harmonise various sampling methods of ballast water and to study their effectiveness for sampling. Further objectives of this Concerted Action include: state of the art of ballast water studies, case histories of selected introduced species, assessing potential treatment options of ballast water, development of public awareness material, assessing European waters as potential donor area and documentation of European studies on introduced species in the past.

Recent publications

Gollasch, S. & Riemann-Zürneck, K. (1996): Transoceanic dispersal of benthic macrofauna: Haliplanella luciae (Verrill, 1898) (Anthozoa, Actinaria) found on a ships hull in a shipyard dock in Hamburg harbour, Germany. Helgoländer Meeresunters., 50(2), 253-258
Faubel, A & Gollasch, S. (1996): Cryptostylochus hullensis n. sp. (Polycladida, Acotylea, Plathelminthes): a possible case of transoceanic dispersal on a ships hull. Helgoländer Meeresunters., 50(4), 533-537
Gollasch, S., Dammer, M., Lenz, J. & Andres, H. G. (1998): Non-indigenous organisms introduced via ships traffic into German waters. ICES Coop. Res. Rewp. No. 224, 50-64.
Reise, K., Gollasch, S. & Wolff, W. J. (1999): Introduced marine species of the North Sea coasts. Helgoländer Meeresunters. 52, 219-234
> Gollasch, S. (1998): Removal of Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Ballast Water Control and Management Measures in Developing Countries. Report prepared for the IMO MEPC Ballast Water Working Group. Short version, 32 pp. IMO MEPC 41, April 1998
Gollasch, S. (1999): The Asian decapod Hemigrapsus penicillatus (de Haan, 1833) (Decapoda, Grapsidae) introduced in European waters, status quo and future perspective. Helgoländer Meeresunters. 52, 359-366
Gollasch, S. & E. Leppäkoski (1999): Initial risk assessment of alien species in Nordic coastal waters. 1-124. In: Gollasch, S. & E. Leppäkoski (eds.) Initial risk assessment of alien species in Nordic coastal waters. Nord 1999: 8. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen. 244 pp.
Gollasch, S., Minchin, D., Rosenthal H. & Voigt, M. (eds.): Exotics Across the Ocean. Case histories on introduced species: their general biology, distribution, range expansion and impact. Logos Verlag, Berlin, 78 pp., ISBN 3-89722-248-5

Homepages

1996, updated in 1999: Chinese Mitten Crab and other non-native species of the Baltic Sea. Contribution to Klaipeda database of the Baltic Marine Biologists: http://www.ku.lt/nemo/mainnemo.html
1996: Summary of German shipping study on ballast water, tank sediments and hull fouling: http://www.ifm.uni-kiel.de/pl/transpor/default.htm
1999: Removal of Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Ballast Water Control and Management Measures in Developing Countries. Background information compiled to support GEF Project, 196pp.: http://www.imo.org
1999: Exotics Across the Ocean. Homepage on the EU Concerted Action: ”Testing Monitoring Systems for Risk Assessment of Harmful Introductions by Ships to European Waters: http://members.aol.com/sgollasch/sgollasch/index.htm

Regulations on introduced species and/or ballast water and other vectors of species introductions:
- are any regulations currently in place or in preparation?

Deliberate releases of non-indigenous species (list species and numbers):
- restocking
- aquaculture
- scientific experiments, and others

Accidental introductions and transfers (list species and numbers):
- escapes from aquaculture cites
- indicate species likely to be introduced by ballast water and other vectors
- secondary spread within the Baltic region
- range expansion, and others

Impact of introduced species:
- indicate threatened native species
- estimate costs such as loss of harvest, rebuild damages etc in US$

Live imports (list species and numbers):
- fishing
- aquaculture
- bait inducstry, and others

Live exports (list species and numbers):
- fishing
- aquaculture
- bait inducstry, and others

Meetings, conferences, symposia, lectures, poster presentations, workshops or new working groups:
- events (relevant to the topic) you were involved in since the last workshop
- any meetings scheduled in the near future in your country
- MSc and PhD thesis in prep.
- public awareness campaigns

Bibliography

Most recent publications are already listed in your CV. List planned (in prep.) publications here.

Aim

The database (information system) is being developed on alien (introduced, non-native, non-indigenous) species, their distribution as well as threats they pose to human health, environment and economy in the Baltic Sea area. This database is planned to be a common reference system for use by HELCOM Contracting Parties, monitoring institutions, environmental managers, researchers, students and the general public.

Background

The Baltic Sea area is known to ”host” nearly 100 non-native species, which were intentionally or unintentionally moved by man over the environmental barriers isolating the Sea from both fully marine and fully freshwater milieu. Most of these species become permanently established, some of them have caused significant ecological and economic damage. The most recent examples from the late 1990s are the invasions of the Ponto-Caspian plankton crustacean Cercopagis pengoi, causing fishing gears damage in the eastern part of Gulf of Finland and south-eastern Baltic, and massive occurrence of the shipworm Teredo navalis at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern coast of Germany, causing economic losses due to damage to submerged wooden installations.
The systematisation work on the Baltic alien species, started by individual researchers in previous decades, and is presently continued by the BMB WG 30 NEMO, established in 1994. Members of the BMB WG 30 permanently communicate with each other, mostly by email. In June 1999, most of the WG members met at a regular workshop arranged within the 16^th BMB Symposium, which was held in Klaipeda.
It is important that during recent years close contacts with relevant working groups within ICES, IMO, IUCN, CBD as well as some national research centres were established, providing good basis for inter-regional exchange of information.
Since 1998 the BMB WG NEMO is applying for a HELCOM project in order to get support for extensive technical work involved in development of the Baltic Sea Alien Species Database. However, by now no funds have been received and therefore all work is being performed on a voluntary basis.

Status by March 2000

The BMB WG 30 has compiled an Inventory of the Baltic Sea Alien Species kept by the Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Klaipeda University. This inventory presents the current status of knowledge on 97 species non-indigenous marine, brackish and fresh water species recorded in the Baltic Sea area (incl. Kattegat). It is available at Internet since 1997. The Inventory is currently updated, last update on February 1, 2000. Links to this Inventory may be found at different international and national web sites related to alien species issues in Europe, America and Australia.
In the inventory, the following data are presented for each species: YEAR of the first record in the area (if known) or probable time of introduction; STATUS of establishment (established in the Baltic or adjacent freshwater bodies, not established or status unknown); ORIGIN - known or probable area of origin; VECTOR - known or probable vector of introduction; REFERENCE – scientific publication or other source of information indicating occurrence of the given species in the Baltic Sea Area.
For some species complete entries are available, containing information on species taxonomy, identification features, area of origin, vector of introduction, distribution history in the Baltic, abiotic preferences, life cycle, ecological and economic impacts.

During 2000

• a questionnaire will be issued and sent to the Contracting Parties, monitoring authorities and research institutions in order to get most recent data on the alien species distribution in the Baltic Sea area, their ecological and economic impacts
• information entries for alien species will be compiled, edited and standardised
• incoming information will be treated and incorporated into the final version to be published at the Internet site
• an user friendly map interface will be developed to present regional accounts on alien species in particular Baltic regions
• an input system for permanent update of information on the alien species in the Baltic Sea area will be developed and related to HELCOM reporting system on ”abnormal” events.

Important note: the activities listed require additional extensive intellectual and technical input which cannot be offered on a voluntary basis as it was earlier. Therefore the financial support, which was indicated in the Baltic Sea Alien Species Database project proposal, is of crucial importance to continue the work started.

From 2000

Development of the database is only the first necessary step in order to understand and evaluate the scope of the alien species problem. It is planned that after the database is established, and schemes for its continuos updating and fast dissemination of information between responsible institutions within the Contracting Parties are elaborated, next steps should be undertaken.
Relevant measures for early detection of alien species in the Baltic Sea area should be elaborated. Existing methods to control the spread and minimise impacts of introduced aquatic species should be adopted and relevant new methods elaborated.
Experts involved in the creation of the above mentioned inventory of the alien species in the Baltic Sea area believe that all complex of works related to the alien species problem (from information support to technical and legislative measures) would be an important task for the future GEF ”Baltic Sea ecosystem” project. They are ready to assist the GEF project group on questions concerning the alien species problem.

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