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1. INTRODUCTION

There are long-standing concerns in countries throughout the world regarding the effects of the introduction of non-indigenous aquatic species into oceans, lakes, rivers and estuaries. Many country's concerns have compounded within their jurisdiction with the rapid growth of aquaculture in recent years.

Some countries, through national and international agencies, are involved in reviewing policies and procedures related to proposed introductions of exotic (non-indigenous) species, as well as transfers within and between countries. Examples of groups concerned about exotic species introductions include: the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC), and the American Fisheries Society (AFS). Countries in both Europe and North America have also individually spent considerable time addressing this issue.

At its Statutory Meeting in 1973, ICES adopted a “Code of Practice to Reduce the Risks of Adverse Effects Arising from Introduction of Non-indigenous Marine Species.” Regulatory agencies of all member countries have been encouraged to use the strongest possible measures to prevent unauthorized or unapproved introductions. At its Statutory Meeting in 1979 the Council adopted a revised Code as follows (ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 130, 1984):

  1. Recommended procedure for all species prior to reaching a decision regarding new introductions (A recommended procedure for introduced or transferred species which are part of current commercial practice is given in Section 4).

    1. Member countries contemplating any new introduction should be requested to present to the Council, at an early stage, information on the species, stage in the life cycle, area of origin, proposed place of introduction and objectives, with such information on its habitat, epifauna, associated organisms, potential competition to species in the new environment etc., as is available. The Council should then consider the possible outcome of the introduction and offer advice on the acceptability of the choice.

    2. Appropriate authorities of the importing country (including fishery management authorities) should examine each “candidate for admission” in its natural environment to assess; the justification for the introduction, its relationship with other members of the ecosystem, and the role played by parasites and diseases.

    3. The probable effects of an introduced species in the new area should be assessed carefully, including examination of the effects of any previous introductions of this or similar species in other areas.

    4. Results of (b) and (c) should be communicated to the Council for evaluation and comment.

  2. If the decision is taken to proceed with the introduction, the following action is recommended:

    1. A broodstock should be established in an approved quarantine situation. The first generation progeny of the introduced species can be transplanted to the natural environment if no diseases or parasites become evident, but not the original import. The quarantine period will be used to provide opportunity for observation for disease and parasites In the case of fish, broodstock should be developed from stocks imported as eggs preferably or juveniles to allow sufficient time for observation in quarantine.

    2. All effluents from hatcheries or quarantine establishments should be sterilized in an approved manner which should include the killing of al living organisms present in the effluents.

    3. A continuing study should be made of the introduced species in its new environment, and progress reports should be submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

  3. Regulatory agencies of all member countries are encouraged to use the strongest possible measures to prevent unauthorized or unapproved introductions.

  4. Recommended procedure for introduced or transferred species which are part of current commercial practice.

    1. Periodic inspection (including examination by microscopic techniques) by the receiving country of material prior to mass transplantation to confirm freedom from introducible pests and diseases. If inspection reveals any undesirable development, importation must be immediately discontinued. Findings and remedial actions should be reported to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

    2. Inspection and control of each consignment on arrival.

    3. Quarantining and disinfection whenever possible and where appropriate.

    4. Establishment of broodstock certified free of specific pathogens.

It is appreciated that countries will have different attitudes toward the selection of the place of inspection and control of the consignment, either in the country of origin or in the country of receipt.

At its fourteenth session held in Bordeaux, France, from 27 May to 3 June 1987, EIFAC endorsed the efforts of the first session of its Working Party on Introductions and of the joint meeting of the EIFAC Working Party on Introduction with the ICES Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (see paragraphs 58 to 60 of the report of the fourteenth session published as FAO Fisheries Report No. 364). The report of the EIFAC Working Party on Introduction includes, as its Annex E, the following revised Code of Practice, based upon the ICES Code of Practice, to reduce the risk of adverse effects arising from the introduction or transfer of inland aquatic organisms:

  1. Recommended procedure prior to reaching a decision regarding proposed introductions (This procedure does not apply to introductions or transfers which are part of current commercial practice).

    1. Member countries contemplating any introduction should be requested to present to EIFAC at an early stage information on the species, area of origin, proposed place of introduction and objectives, with such information on its habitat, associated organisms etc., as is available. EIFAC should then consider the possible outcome of the introduction and offer advice whether to proceed with further evaluation.

    2. Appropriate authorities of the importing country should examine each “candidate for admission” to assess the justification for the introduction, its relationship with other members of the ecosystem, details of its biology and ecology and the possibility of introducing associated pathogenic organisms and parasites.

    3. The probable effects of introduction into the new area should be assessed carefully, including an examination of the effects of any previous introductions of this or similar species in other areas, and a prediction of the final range of the species assuming it could form breeding populations in natural waters.

    4. The above procedures (i, ii, iii) should be carried out by following the Review and Decision Model as set out in a subsequent section.

  2. Recommended action If the decision is taken to proceed with the introduction, the following action is recommended:

    1. A brood stock should be established in an approved quarantine situation. Brood stocks should be developed from stocks imported as eggs, in order to minimize the possibility of contamination by pathogenic organisms, parasites or by other species of fish. All effluents from establishments used for quarantine purposes should be sterilized in an approved manner.

    2. If no communicable pathogenic organisms including parasites become evident, the first generation progeny, but not the original import, of the introduced species can be transplanted to culture sites or to the natural environment, preferably to small, isolated and restricted river basins or lakes.

  3. Recommended actions after introduction

    1. A continuing study should be made of the introduced species in its new environment and progress reports submitted to EIFAC.

    2. Every effort should be made to contain the species within the water bodies or water courses into which introduction was made.

  4. Regulatory agencies of all member countries are encouraged to use the strongest possible measures to prevent unauthorized or unapproved introductions and transfers.

  5. Recommended procedure for introductions or transfers which are part of current commercial practice (The procedures laid down by the “Draft Convention to prevent the spread of major communicable fish diseases” should be adhered to, especially:)

    1. Periodic inspection (including adequate microscopic and microbiological examinations) by the receiving country of material for prior mass transplantation to confirm freedom from introducable pests and diseases. If inspection reveals any undesirable development, importation must be immediately discontinued. Findings and remedial actions should be reported to EIFAC.

    2. Inspection and control of each consignment on arrival.

    3. Quarantining or disinfection where appropriate.

    4. Establishment of brood stocks certified free of specified pathogens.

While these codes give a broad direction towards control of introductions and transfers, there is still a need for more specific instructions on their implementation, i.e., a checklist of procedures to be followed for consideration of an introduction and follow-up instructions should one be approved. This document has been prepared to provide initial direction in areas such as: ecology, genetics, inspection and certification, quarantine and pathology.

Although there will continue to be problems related to importations, particularly in the areas of genetics and ecology, this document introduces methods of handling matters related to consideration, approval and monitoring of introductions or transfers.

The protocols put forward herein address first the broad administrative procedures required within countries to handle requests for introductions or transfers. Then, common or “universal” protocols which should be carried out when contemplating these movements for commercial purposes are dealt with, followed by those for importations to support established commercial practice and those solely for scientific study at research establishments. In Appendix I, examples of procedures in various stages of development now being utilized to handle selected species group movements are presented. These examples demonstrate how varied the control procedures are at this time.

Additionally, a “Review and Decision Model for Evaluating Proposed Introductions of Aquatic Organisms into and within Europe” is reprinted in Appendix II from EIFAC Technical Paper 44, to provide discussion on and to evaluate introduction or transfer requests.


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