Non-Native Species in the AntarcticWorkshop10, 11 & 12 April 2006

Group 1, (Green badges)Group 1, (Green badges)Chair: Dr. Alan HemmingsChair: Dr. Alan HemmingsReporter: Catherine TischReporter: Catherine Tisch

1)1) PREVENTION OF INTRODUCTIONS PREVENTION OF INTRODUCTIONS INTO THE INTO THE ANTARCTICANTARCTIC (FROM OUTSIDE ANTARCTIC). (FROM OUTSIDE ANTARCTIC).

DID NOT ADDRESS – FELT IT HAD BEEN WELL DID NOT ADDRESS – FELT IT HAD BEEN WELL COVERED IN PRESENTATIONSCOVERED IN PRESENTATIONS

a)a) Terrestrial / freshwater Terrestrial / freshwater

b) Prevention of marine introductions of non-native species into b) Prevention of marine introductions of non-native species into

2) PREVENTION OF SPREAD 2) PREVENTION OF SPREAD WITHIN THE WITHIN THE ANTARCTICANTARCTIC ONCE NON -NATIVE ORGANISMS ONCE NON -NATIVE ORGANISMS HAVE ARRIVEDHAVE ARRIVED

DID NOT ADDRESSDID NOT ADDRESS

3) PREVENTION OF INTRODUCTION OF SPECIES 3) PREVENTION OF INTRODUCTION OF SPECIES THAT ARE NATIVE IN THE ANTARCTIC THAT ARE NATIVE IN THE ANTARCTIC TO TO OTHER AREAS IN THE ANTARCTICOTHER AREAS IN THE ANTARCTIC WHERE THEY WHERE THEY ARE NOT NATIVEARE NOT NATIVE

• Pathways/taxa/situations/geographic areas include: Pathways/taxa/situations/geographic areas include: • Marine- Circumpolar traffic between ports and bays; Marine- Circumpolar traffic between ports and bays;

introductions via fouled vessels, small boats (tourism introductions via fouled vessels, small boats (tourism and science)and science)

• Transport of simpler life forms over terrestrial Transport of simpler life forms over terrestrial landscapes and inland waters such as isolated regions landscapes and inland waters such as isolated regions of the Dry Valleys or isolated nunataks, via hiking, of the Dry Valleys or isolated nunataks, via hiking, surface vehicles (ATV’s), camping, sampling, air surface vehicles (ATV’s), camping, sampling, air traffictraffic

• Currently, risk is addressed via case-specific EIA, Currently, risk is addressed via case-specific EIA, management practices which have been established for management practices which have been established for specific regions; ASMA, ASPA; national legislation and specific regions; ASMA, ASPA; national legislation and practice practice

3) 3) (cont).(cont).• Gaps and means to address: Gaps and means to address:

Establish baseline conditions, via reporting and Establish baseline conditions, via reporting and information sharinginformation sharing-Reporting vectors within continent from all -Reporting vectors within continent from all

operators and science parties operators and science parties -Define biogeographical boundaries-Define biogeographical boundaries-Determining relative isolation of biogeographic -Determining relative isolation of biogeographic

regions regions Risk assessmentRisk assessment Increase awareness, which leads to cooperation and Increase awareness, which leads to cooperation and

action. Develop Vessel Monitoring System beyond action. Develop Vessel Monitoring System beyond CCAMLR CCAMLR

4) PREVENTION OF INTRODUCTION OF ANTARCTIC 4) PREVENTION OF INTRODUCTION OF ANTARCTIC SPECIES INTO OTHER AREAS (that is, NORTH of SPECIES INTO OTHER AREAS (that is, NORTH of the AT area) WHERE THEY ARE NOT NATIVEthe AT area) WHERE THEY ARE NOT NATIVE

Pathways:Pathways:● ● Ballast water and tank sediment (esp. Arctic) Ballast water and tank sediment (esp. Arctic) ● ● Soil, propagules on equipment, containers vehicles, wasteSoil, propagules on equipment, containers vehicles, waste● ● National operator + tourist traffic linking Ant and sub-AntNational operator + tourist traffic linking Ant and sub-Ant● ● Airlinks, ● IUUAirlinks, ● IUU

Addressed by ATS/other instruments:Addressed by ATS/other instruments:No formal obligations, general biosecurity obligations by stateNo formal obligations, general biosecurity obligations by state

Gaps:Gaps:● ● Genome recycling (sub-glacial lakes, anthrax, spanish flu Genome recycling (sub-glacial lakes, anthrax, spanish flu

virus)virus)● ● Lack of standard approaches and guidelines to quarantine Lack of standard approaches and guidelines to quarantine ● ● Disease on sub-Ant territory may impact on local economyDisease on sub-Ant territory may impact on local economy

5)5) PROTECTION OF ANTARCTIC VALUES AGAINST PROTECTION OF ANTARCTIC VALUES AGAINST NON-NATIVE SPECIES IMPACTS, WHAT ARE WE NON-NATIVE SPECIES IMPACTS, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?TRYING TO ACHIEVE?1) Generate list high value/high risk areas (HMI,PEI models)1) Generate list high value/high risk areas (HMI,PEI models)2) Set standards and precedents-proactive rather than reactive2) Set standards and precedents-proactive rather than reactive3) Avoid degrading the environment3) Avoid degrading the environment

Ramifications- Ramifications- Need to acquire baseline data, management procedures, caveats: selling this Need to acquire baseline data, management procedures, caveats: selling this will not be easy, marine environments particularly difficultwill not be easy, marine environments particularly difficult

How to increase awareness-How to increase awareness-Ideas- Ideas-

Assemble information from states with ongoing biosecurity Assemble information from states with ongoing biosecurity programs, programs,

examples from subantarctic, work with stakeholders from examples from subantarctic, work with stakeholders from beginningbeginningImplementation- Implementation-

Bring to the attention of Antarctic bodies- SCAR Open Science, Bring to the attention of Antarctic bodies- SCAR Open Science, SCAR SCAR subantarctic conf., Census Antarctic Marine Life, regional bodies. subantarctic conf., Census Antarctic Marine Life, regional bodies.

Target information to “low awareness” statesTarget information to “low awareness” statesRaise awareness with field groups, tourism, others etc.Raise awareness with field groups, tourism, others etc.

6) LEGAL / INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.6) LEGAL / INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.

Goes beyond just the ATS – important as that isGoes beyond just the ATS – important as that is

Within ATS: graduated response – step 1 GuidelinesWithin ATS: graduated response – step 1 Guidelines

2006 – establishment ICG through CEP (scoping issues)2006 – establishment ICG through CEP (scoping issues)2007 – report back to CEP 2007 – report back to CEP 2007-2009 – risk assessment (SCAR, state or states?)2007-2009 – risk assessment (SCAR, state or states?)2009 – advice to ATCM, draft guidelines2009 – advice to ATCM, draft guidelines2010 – guidelines (and any associated Measure?)2010 – guidelines (and any associated Measure?)

Biosecurity expertise into national positions/delegations?Biosecurity expertise into national positions/delegations? Engagement with extra-ATS institutionsEngagement with extra-ATS institutions Using existing tools – Protected Areas & EIA systemsUsing existing tools – Protected Areas & EIA systems

7)7) SCIENCE AND RESEARCHSCIENCE AND RESEARCH

What do we need to know for management & conservation?What do we need to know for management & conservation?• Baseline biodiversity and how it is distributedBaseline biodiversity and how it is distributed• What values do we want to protect?What values do we want to protect?• What are the values at risk? Places at risk? What are the values at risk? Places at risk? • Risk Management - Risk Management - relative risk of IAS vs. other relative risk of IAS vs. other

management priorities;management priorities; c cost-benefit analysesost-benefit analyses• How to balance risk management vs. scientific researchHow to balance risk management vs. scientific research

Priorities for increased efforts?Priorities for increased efforts?• Taxonomic expertiseTaxonomic expertise• Baseline biodiversity and how it is distributedBaseline biodiversity and how it is distributed• Risk Assessment - quantifying vectors, pathways, Risk Assessment - quantifying vectors, pathways,

consequences, likelihoodconsequences, likelihood• Protecting areas – how many? how big?Protecting areas – how many? how big?• Sharing existing knowledgeSharing existing knowledge

8) FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS8) FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSNew pathwaysNew pathways::● ● New bases, tourist/science activities and sites, logistic linesNew bases, tourist/science activities and sites, logistic lines● ● Autonomous rovers, unmanned aircraft, balloonsAutonomous rovers, unmanned aircraft, balloons● ● Globally distributed GMOs/nano particle hybridsGlobally distributed GMOs/nano particle hybrids

ConflictsConflicts: ATS (terrestrial), CCAMLR (marine); ATS/non-ATS: ATS (terrestrial), CCAMLR (marine); ATS/non-ATS

Climate change:Climate change:● ● New colonisation sites – marine (extinctions?); terrestrial (extended range, New colonisation sites – marine (extinctions?); terrestrial (extended range,

alien species life cycle completion)alien species life cycle completion)● ● New sites for human activities – science/bases/logisticsNew sites for human activities – science/bases/logistics● ● Persistent aliens become invasive aliensPersistent aliens become invasive aliens

New threats for research and logistics: New threats for research and logistics: Key service (algal blockage), science + intrinsic values, reallocation of Key service (algal blockage), science + intrinsic values, reallocation of

funds funds

Appropriate strategies (eradication?, control?)Appropriate strategies (eradication?, control?)● ● Depends! Depends! ● ● Prepare contingency plans (rats). Prepare contingency plans (rats). ● ● Marine environment a Marine environment a

problem. problem. ● ● New technologies may help medium term?New technologies may help medium term?

9) OTHER: 9) OTHER: Are there other questions which should be Are there other questions which should be considered /addressed?considered /addressed?

How we set priorities – not just between the risks How we set priorities – not just between the risks posed by non-native species, but between this and posed by non-native species, but between this and other key env issues, given costs and opportunity other key env issues, given costs and opportunity costs posed?costs posed?

What level of risk to accept?What level of risk to accept? How to technically conduct the risk analysis process How to technically conduct the risk analysis process

(who, sources, uncertainties, etc)(who, sources, uncertainties, etc) How to arrive at agreed position across differing How to arrive at agreed position across differing

national/cultural norms of Antarctic states? (process national/cultural norms of Antarctic states? (process issues within states, between states/IG and NG issues within states, between states/IG and NG organisations and within CEP & SCAR)organisations and within CEP & SCAR)

How to fundHow to fund

Summary of Summary of KEYKEY Points: Points:

1.1. Knowledge base (limited, needs development)Knowledge base (limited, needs development)

2.2. Risk Assessment – determining prioritiesRisk Assessment – determining priorities

3.3. TimelineTimeline1.1. To develop understanding that it is an issueTo develop understanding that it is an issue2.2. To acquire dataTo acquire data3.3. To develop responsesTo develop responses