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Investigating the Impacts of Marine Invasive Non-Native Species

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Investigating the Impacts of Marine Invasive Non-Native Species Natural England Commissioned Report NECR223 Investigating the Impacts of Marine Invasive Non-Native Species First published 14 September 2016 www.gov.uk/natural -england Foreword Natural England commission a range of reports from external contractors to provide evidence and advice to assist us in delivering our duties. The views in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Natural England. Background Non-native species can become invasive, altering worm F. enigmaticus and the leathery sea-squirt S. local ecology and out-competing native species. clava. However, we currently lack evidence on the impacts The focus of this report to provide evidence on that some of these species have on the environment, potential susceptibility of MPA features in particular in particular to features of Marine Protected Areas and the generation of a matrix tool which can be and how best to incorporate the presence and adapted in future to incorporate more species and potential impacts caused by invasive non-native new information will provide our staff and others with species (INNS) in the assessment of site condition. overview of potential risks and priorities. This The Improvement Programme for England’s Natura information will feed into the guidance being 2000 sites (IPENS) identified INNS as a key issue developed on the condition assessment process as it impacting our Natura 2000 sites. The theme plan of will help staff to assess the potential threats of key actions includes gathering evidence on impacts invasive species on the MPA. to encourage uptake of best practice and also Finally, the information gathered in this report will be gathering evidence to help determine priority species provided to the GB Non Native Species Secretariat to to address. input into risk assessments currently being written or The aims of this project were to carry out a literature not yet started for these 8 species. The review and gather evidence from stakeholders on the recommendation to review the risk assessment environmental (with a particular focus on MPA process to include specific impacts to MPAs will also features) and socioeconomic impacts of 8 key marine be taken forward for consideration. INNS. This report should be cited as: This report provides a useful reference source for MACLEOD, A., COOK, E.J., HUGHES, D. & ALLEN, information about both the economic and C. 2016. Investigating the Impacts of Marine Invasive environmental impacts of 8 marine INNS which will Non-Native Species. A report by Scottish Association help feed into improvements in our advice to for Marine Science Research Services Ltd for Natural operators on the potential impacts of invasive England & Natural Resources Wales, pp. 59. Natural species, in turn helping us to encourage the uptake England Commissioned Reports, Number223. of mitigation and best practice to reduce the introduction and spread of these species. For example, new information previously unpublished and gathered from stakeholders includes anecdotal evidence of economic impacts from the trumpet tube Natural England Project Team - Jan Maclennan and Chris Pirie [email protected] Contractor - SRSL, Lismore Suite, Malin House, The European Marine Science Park, Dunbeg, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1SZ, Tel 01631 559 470 www.srsl.com Keywords - Marine, invasive non-native species (inns), marine protected areas (mpa), non-native species Further information This report can be downloaded from the Natural England website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england. For information on Natural England publications contact the Natural England Enquiry Service on 0300 060 3900 or e-mail [email protected]. This report is published by Natural England under the Open Government Licence - OGLv3.0 for public sector information. You are encouraged to use, and reuse, information subject to certain conditions. For details of the licence visit Copyright. Natural England photographs are only available for non commercial purposes. If any other information such as maps or data cannot be used commercially this will be made clear within the report. ISBN 978-1-78354-349-6 © Natural England and other parties 2016 INVESTIGATING THE IMPACTS OF MARINE INVASIVE NON-NATIVE SPECIES SAMS Research Services Ltd. Registered Office: Lismore Suite, Malin House, The European Marine Science Park, Oban, Argyll PA37 1SZ T: +44 (0) 1631 559470 F: +44 (0) 1631 559001 E: [email protected] W: http://www.srsl.com Vat Registration No GB 828 9579 61 Company Registered in Scotland No. SC224404 This report was produced by SRSL for its Customers, Natural England & Natural Resources Wales, for the specific purpose of providing a review of the impacts of marine non-native species as per the Customer’s requirements. SRSL accepts no liability for any costs, liabilities or losses arising as a result of the use of or reliance upon the contents of this report by any person other than its Customer. i Acknowledgements Many thanks to Jan Maclennan and Hazel Selley (Natural England), Gabrielle Wyn (Natural Resources Wales) and Olaf Booy (GB Non-Native Species secretariat) who provided support, guidance and comments throughout the duration of this project. The input of all the people who spent the time to respond to the survey is greatly appreciated. Their valuable contribution to the data gathering exercise provided a level of colloquial and ‘hands-on’ experience of non-native species that was essential and allowed recommendations to be presented that are founded within a ‘real world’ context. The authors would also like to thank all the individuals who granted us permission to use their images of the various non-native species within this report. ii Summary Eight Non-Native Species (NNS), whose environmental and socio-economic impacts in the UK were poorly understood, or those with risk assessments by GB Non-Native Species Secretariat which had not been reviewed recently, were selected for investigation to assess their potential impacts on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in England and Wales. The eight species were: Undaria pinnatifida; Asian kelp Ficopomatus enigmaticus; Trumpet tube worm Schizoporella japonica; Orange ripple bryozoan Sargassum muticum; Wire weed Hemigrapsus sanguineus; Asian shore crab Styela clava; Leathery sea squirt Corella eumyota; Orange-tipped sea squirt Grateloupia turuturu; Devil’s tongue weed Information was gathered on the biology, habitat, ecology and socio-economic impacts of each NNS via a literature review and a stakeholder consultation survey. The survey was designed to acquire more colloquial experience of stakeholders, with respect to the eight NNS, that may not have been captured or documented within the literature sources. All eight target NNS were found in one or more MPAs in England and Wales, and there were 209 records of one or more of these NNS in MPAs. Observed changes in MPA features were only reported for three of the target NNS including; U. pinnatifida, Sargassum muticum, and C. eumyota, whose introduction had led to changes in community composition. In addition, evidence suggested that a number of the eight target NNS could potentially cause changes to community structure on certain MPA intertidal and subtidal biogenic features. These features included biogenic reefs (e.g. mussel and Sabellaria spp.), subtidal macrophyte-dominated sediment, seagrass beds and native oysters (Ostrea edulis). A matrix tool was created to prioritise the MPAs, which required more detailed risk assessment. This tool used a ‘traffic light’ system based on MPAs features, which were (i) susceptible to (or already colonised by) and (ii) were identified as likely to have one or more of the eight target NNS become established (see Supplementary Material). Sixteen of the 112 MPAs assessed were highlighted as ‘red’ under this system, in that they contained five or more suitable features and environmental conditions for the establishment by one or more of the eight NNS. Whereas, 25 MPAs were considered as ‘green’, in that the designated features of the site were not suitable for establishment by any of the eight target NNS. Two MPAs, Morecambe Bay SAC and the Exe Estuary SPA, were found to have five or more features (i.e. ‘red’), susceptible to colonisation by the greatest number of the target NNS (5 out of 8) in this report. Morecambe Bay SPA, Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC and Fal and Helford SAC, were also listed as ‘red’ for 4 out of 8 of the target NNS. It must be stressed, that a number of assumptions were made when developing the matrix tool, which can be refined over time as more environmental and monitoring data for specific sites becomes available. It is recommended that further evidence is gathered to help determine the point at which a particular NNS may start to have a detrimental impact on a particular feature. For example, at what density a NNS may become an issue. This will help inform both priorities for any iii potential management and identify when features are likely to move into unfavourable condition. In the meantime, authorities and SNCBs will need to continue to make a judgement about the above based on the information provided in this report and other literature sources. Finally, assessors should also be aware of the potential socio-economic impacts associated with specific NNS when preparing a risk assessment for a particular location and discussing biosecurity plans with relevant stakeholders. From the survey, the trumpet tube-worm F. enigmaticus and the leathery
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