Marine Biosecurity Planning for multiple stakeholders – the Loch Creran Experience

Scottish INNS Legislation

Scottish law leads the UK regarding management of INNS

• The Wildlife and Countryside () Act as amended (Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act) July 2012. It makes the following an offence: – Releasing an animal to a place outwith its native range. – Allowing an animal to escape from captivity to a place outwith its native range. – Otherwise causing an animal outwith the control of any person to be at a place outwith its native range. – Planting a plant in the wild at a place outwith its native range. – Otherwise causing a plant to grow in the wild at a place outwith its native range. • The Act also provides powers to offer voluntary Species Control Agreements (SCA) and, if that fails, serve Statutory Species Control Orders (SCO). • Emergency Species Control Orders (ESCO) can be made more rapidly in acute situations. • SCOs and ESCOs can both operate on the ‘polluter pays’ principle.

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B1113471.pdf Scottish Government, Code of Practice on Non-Native Species - Made by the Scottish Ministers under section 14C of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, 2012, Edinburgh. p. 60. And Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland), 2011: Scotland. p. 69 Code of Practice - The Legal Guide

• “Adopt a precautionary approach” • “Carry out risk assessments” • “Seek advice and follow good practice” • “Take reasonable steps and exercise due diligence” Biosecurity Planning

• Prevent the introduction of NNS (biosecurity), rather than cure. • Biosecurity planning, like pathogen control, is now encouraged to be the ‘norm’ for operators and individuals. • Marine Biosecurity Planning Guidance published in 2014/15 covering practical application of the law. What does it involve?

1. Environmental information 2. Higher risk vessel 3. Higher risk activities 4. Biosecurity control measures 5. Site surveillance 6. Contingency plan Non-Native Species

Non-native species established in UK - JNCC

A growing problem... • 3,056 non-native species in Great Britain • 1,957 established • 180 are Invasive.

Impacts of INNS

Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum

Carpet Sea Squirt, Acorn barnacle, Semibalanus balanoides Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha Didemnum vexillum

The problems caused by invasive non-native species affect us all. They cost at least £1.7 billion every year in Britain. Context for the Loch Creran Plan The national response – area wide communications to increase awareness and vigilance – survey (shoreline, infrastructure and reef) – Marine Scotland working on site to better understand D vex in Scottish waters and – to develop controls which fit with operational needs and which could be replicated elsewhere if needed. Loch Creran

Approximately 5km Approximately

Approximately 13km Didemnum vexillum

• Smothering species • Native to Japan • Tolerant of changes to temperature, salinity, moisture and UV exposure. • No natural predators. D vex growing over boulders on the seabed. © Ian Davidson, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Maryland, USA Aims of the Loch Creran Plan • Help control D vex • Help to contain D vex • Help to avoid more introductions • Develop relevant and practical actions and monitoring • Help support local stakeholders • Help to raise awareness and increase reporting Developing the Loch Creran Plan • Stakeholder Mapping • 1-2-1 discussions • Risk Assessment • Develop of Actions • Develop of Monitoring Regime • Agree Actions and Monitoring • Stakeholder Buy-In • Awareness Raising • Support for implementation Loch Creran Stakeholder Mapping One of the busiest Lochs on the west coast of Scotland • Recreational – power, sail, kayak etc. • Shipping - staff transport, bulk shipments. • Aquaculture - finfish and shellfish. • Aquaculture – live fish processing. • Tourism – sea life attractions, marine tours. • Residential - water front properties with private access. • Marine engineering - building and servicing of fish farm infrastructure • Boatyard - cleaning and storage, moorings. • 70+ people and organisations on the stakeholder list Developing a Biosecurity Plan

Pathway / Vector Analysis, Risk Assessment

Likelihood of Vector Effectiveness of establishment Risk association vector with NNS and spread Development of Actions Practical Actions - Aquaculture

Aquaculture Pathway/Vector Action Risk Assessment Finfish farm Train dive teams to identify D vex. Check for suspected D vex prior to BEFORE mitigating washing and halt cleaning process and alert Marine Scotland if a colony is actions – found. MEDIUM/HIGH Ensure that suppliers of feed and sprats/eggs are aware of biosecurity plan AFTER mitigating and are alert for D vex in particular. actions - MEDIUM Finfish feed barge Train dive team to identify NNS. BEFORE mitigating and fish farm Regularly survey the barge for NNS. actions – HIGH cages Do not move the barge unless there has been a full clear biological survey confirming an absence of D vex & other NNS. AFTER mitigating Alert Marine Scotland to any suspected D vex on the structure as soon as actions -MEDIUM possible for best advice for your site. Finfish farm Train staff to identify and report suspected D vex. BEFORE mitigating infrastructure Survey all structures for fouling prior to departure from the Loch. If D vex is actions – LOW manufacturing suspected do not move the structure, contact SEARS helpline straight away. AFTER mitigating actions - LOW Finfish well-boats Assess efficacy of pathogen control measures against D vex. BEFORE mitigating Adhere to biosecurity and pathogen protocols when discharging well actions – MEDIUM water. AFTER mitigating actions - LOW Pontoon at S Shian Train staff and survey regularly for suspected D vex growth. Alert Marine BEFORE mitigating processing plant Scotland if D vex is suspected. actions – MEDIUM/HIGH AFTER mitigating actions - MEDIUM Best Practice Advice by Sector

• All users – cross sectoral advice • Small scale leisure (kayaks, diving etc.) • Larger scale leisure (yachts etc.) • Marina and mooring operators and owners • Commercial marine operators • Aquaculture • Shipping

Ownership of the Plan

The following organisations and individuals were involved in the development of the Loch Creran Plan. • Achalic Farm • Community Council • and Bute Council • Bidwells, Managing Agent • C2W, Marine Matters Managed • Caledonia Oysters • CB Marine Services • Creagan Inn • Creran Marine • Crown Estate Scotland • Derek Bailey, fisherman • Fusion Marine • International Paints • Isle of Hotel • NW Marine • RYA Scotland • SAMS • Scottish Sea Farms • Seaexplorer Tours • Sealife Sanctuary • SEPA • Shian Fisheries • SNH • West Highland Mooring Association • Yeoman Glensanda Aggregate Industries Post Publication

• 12 months support for the community, 2 days per month – producing good results • Actively promoted • Good reporting of suspected sightings • No further spread of D vex reported! Loch Creran is not alone – biosecurity planning across the UK

Questions?

Sarah Brown │ Marine Biosecurity Consultant [email protected] DD : 01631 730327 M : 07867 623683

Lorna King │ Senior Marine Policy Officer [email protected] DD : +44 (0)131 244 1540