Codes of practice on species introductions
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the European Inland Fishery Advisory Commission have developed codes of practice on the use of introduced species. These codes generally apply to the purposeful movement of aquatic species, for example, in fisheries, biological control, aquaculture, and for research. There are also guidelines and policy concerning species introduced inadvertently through ballast water or on ships' hulls. The basic Code (see figure) requires that: the entity moving an exotic species develop a PROPOSAL, that would include location of facility, planned use, passport information, and source of the exotic species; an independent REVIEW that evaluates the proposal and the impacts and risk/benefits of the proposed introduction, e.g. pathogens, ecological requirements/interactions, genetic concerns, socio-economic concerns, and local species most affected would be evaluated; ADVICE and comment are communicated among the proposers, evaluators and decision makers and the independent review ADVISES to either accept, refine, or reject the proposal so that all parties understand the basis for any decision or action, thus proposals can be refined and review panel can request additional information on which to make their recommendation; if approval to introduce a species is granted QUARANTINE, CONTAINMENT, MONITORING, AND REPORTING PROGRAMMES are implemented, and the ONGOING PRACTICE of importing the (formerly) exotic species becomes subject to review and inspection that check the general condition of the shipments, e.g. checking that no pathogens are present, that the correct species is being shipped. The Code is general and can be adapted to specific circumstances and resource availability, but it should not lose any of the above requirements nor should it lose the rigor at which the requirements are applied. For example, a regulatory agency may require a proposal to contain a first evaluation of the risk/benefits and this evaluation would then be forwarded to an independent review or advisory panel; or the advisory panel could make the first evaluation of a proposal. Similarly, states may require quarantine procedures to be explicitly described in the proposal before approval is granted.   Prepared by Devin Bartley Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service   reference sources Bartley, D.M. R. Subasinghe, and D. Coates, 1996. Draft Framework for the responsible use of introduced species. European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission. EIFAC/XIX/96/Inf.8. ICES. 1995. ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5p. Turner, G. E. 1988. Codes of Practice and Manual of Procedures for Consideration of Introductions and Transfers of Marine and Freshwater Organisms. EIFAC Occasional Paper No. 23. European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations   Top		This figure represents a code of practice for the responsible use of introduced species. The process is interactive in order to modify proposals and act on advise of review FAO/FIRI/D.Bartley To view figure in pdf click here links ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms Ballast waters: pollution and invasive species Database on Introductions of Aquatic Species (DIAS) further information International Council for the Exploration of the Sea European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission Database on introductions of Aquatic Species (DIAS) reference sources