Maintained by

Threats

CBD on Alien Species

ALIEN SPECIES

12. Alien components of biodiversity, including species, genetic strains, mixed genetic stock and living modified organisms, have the potential for significant, non-reversible, adverse impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity. Such impacts generally tend to be unpredictable. When they are adverse, they tend to homogenize and simplify biotic communities. Eradication of established alien species is difficult, if not impossible. One means to mitigate damage due to these components is to make introductions subject to rigorous prior environmental impact assessments.

13. Alien species can be introduced inadvertently and intentionally. Non-intentional introductions primarily result from the discharge of ballast water, escapees from mariculture, organisms associated with species introduced intentionally, and unauthorized releases by the public. Furthermore, it should be recognized that introductions result from the engineering of waterways connecting previously separate bodies of water.

14. Intentional introductions occur primarily for mariculture production, including marine ranching, although an additional significant pathway is by release of hatchery-spawned organisms into the wild for the purpose of augmenting wild populations, generally for future capture in fisheries or in an attempt to enhance a population that is under threat. Particularly in the case of intentional introductions, alien species may include those resulting from the interbreeding of different genetic stocks or that have been genetically modified.