Marine Invasive Species
What are Marine Invasive Species?
Marine invasive species (MIS) are marine alien1 animals and plants that have negative impacts to their new environment in terms of ecology, economy, society or human health. MIS could potentially spread rapidly because of the lack of their natural predators, this will result in competition with native species and endangering local biodiversity. Currently, 18 invasive species in Canada has an estimated economic impact of $13.3 - 34.5 billion per year. With continuous introduction of invasive species, such as marine invasive species, estimated economic impact by invasive will continue to grow.
How do Marine Invasive Species get here?
Marine invasive species can enter an ecosystem through many different pathways:
- MIS are integrated with ballast water in donor ecosystems and released in recipient ecosystems through commercial vessels
- MIS are transported by hitchhiking on the bottom of recreational vessels and some commercial vessels: hull fouling
- MIS are introduced through aquaculture, either deliberate (Pacific Oyster) or accidental (Japanese wireweed)
- MIS are introduced through poor dispersal or release by the aquarium trade
Common marine invasive species found in British Columbia, Canada
Golden star tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri)
Violet tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus)
Club tunicate (Styela clava)
European green crab (Carcinus maenas)
Atlantic oyster drill (Urosalpinx cinerea)
Japanese mudflat snail (Batillaria attramentaria)
Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum)
Japanese wireweed (Sargassum muticum)
1 marine alien: animals or plants introduced to an environment where they don't naturally occur