ICES WGITMO REPORT 2017 SCICOM STEERING GROUP ON ECOSYSTEM PRESSURES AND IMPACTS ICES CM 2017/SSGEPI:09 REF. SCICOM Interim Report of the Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO) 13-15 March 2017 Woods Hole, USA International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44–46 DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) 33 38 67 00 Telefax (+45) 33 93 42 15 www.ices.dk [email protected] Recommended format for purposes of citation: ICES. 2017. Interim Report of the Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO), 13–15 March 2017, Woods Hole, USA. ICES CM 2017/SSGEPI:09. 139 pp. For permission to reproduce material from this publication, please apply to the Gen- eral Secretary. The document is a report of an Expert Group under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarily represent the views of the Council. © 2017 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ICES WGITMO REPORT 2017 | i Contents Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 2 1 Administrative details .................................................................................................. 3 2 Terms of Reference a) – f) ............................................................................................. 3 3 Summary of the Work Plan .......................................................................................... 4 4 List of Outcomes and Achievements of the WG in this delivery period ............ 4 5 Progress report on ToRs and workplan ..................................................................... 5 6 Revisions to the work plan and justification ........................................................... 9 7 Next meetings ................................................................................................................. 9 Annex 1: Participants ........................................................................................................... 10 Annex 2: Recommendations ............................................................................................... 13 Annex 3: Agenda ................................................................................................................... 14 Annex 4: National Reports (ToR a) ................................................................................... 20 Annex 5: Presentation Abstracts ...................................................................................... 123 Annex 6: ICES ASC 2017 Bioinvasion Theme Session ................................................ 139 2 | ICES WGITMO REPORT 2017 Executive summary The 43rd meeting of the ICES Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO) was held at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion (NOAA) Northeast Fisheries Sciences Center in Woods Hole, USA, on 13–15 March 2017. This meeting included a joint day with the Working Group on Ballast Water and Other Ship Vectors (WGBOSV). The meeting was hosted by Judy Pederson (USA) and chaired by Cynthia McKenzie (Canada). The meeting was attended by 23 scientists in person, two by web-conference and five by correspondence, representing 16 countries; four additional scientists attended on the joint meeting day. The objective of the meeting was to communicate new information and discuss several aspects of the introductions and transfers of marine organisms relevant to the six terms of reference for the working group. There was a particular focus on introductions into the Arctic environment, bio- fouling of vessels and structures, and developing indicators to evaluate impact of non- indigenous species in marine environments. This year’s interim report provides: a summary of the 16 National Reports (reports at- tached in Annex 4); the 20 presentations provided by members and chair invited mem- bers in support of term of reference objectives (abstracts provided in Annex 5); discussions, achievements, limitations and a recommendation. All Terms of Reference were discussed with this report structured so that each Term of Reference is dealt with in sequential order. The National Reports provide an overview of the priorities, findings, meetings and publications for each country. In addition, it provides discussion points for methodologies, collaborations and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed by the group (ToR a). The AquaNIS database continues to be updated and the data is now georeferenced. There were three additional presentations under this term of reference addressing monitoring methodology and an invasion risk assessment tool. WGITMO considered two ToRs jointly with WGBOSV: examining the effect of climate change on the establishment of aquatic species in the Arctic (ToR b); and examining bio- fouling as vector for the introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms on vessels and structures (ToR c). An update was provided on an ongoing initiative to address De- scriptor 2 of the EU-MSFD, in particular Indicator 2.2.1 regarding impact of Invasive Al- ien Species (IAS) on marine environments (ToR d). The final goal is to develop a new indicator of impact that can be proposed for the implementation within the Marine Strat- egy Framework Directive. Two ICES Cooperative Research Reports developed by WGITMO were recently released. One was an alien species alert report on the invasive tunicate Didemnum vexillum and the other summarized the status of non-indigenous ma- rine species in the North Atlantic and adjacent waters 2003–2007 (ToR a). An update was provided on communications regarding the Suez Canal enlargement and bioinvasion problems in the Mediterranean Sea. A theme session for the 2017 ICES ASC on bioinvasion trajectories and impacts in con- trasting marine environments was proposed by WGITMO as collaboration between IC- ES-PICES-CIESM. The proposal was accepted and will be jointly chaired by representatives of the three groups. ICES WGITMO REPORT 2017 | 3 1 Administrative details Working Group name Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO) Year of Appointment within the current cycle 2017 Reporting year within the current cycle (1, 2 or 3) 1 Chair Cynthia McKenzie, Canada Meeting venue Woods Hole, MA, USA Meeting dates 13–15 March 2017 2 Terms of Reference a) – f) a ) Advance reseach, develop collaborations and address surveillance and knowledge gaps in issue related to the introduction and transfer of marine or- gansims, through annual reviews of national/ international activities and re- sponding to advice requests; b ) Evaluate the impact climate change may have on the introduction and spread of non-indigenous marine organisms, including in Arctic environments; c ) Investigate biofouling as a vector for the introduction and transfer of aquatic organisms on vessels and artificial hard structures, their pressure and impact on the ecosystem with a comparison of prevention or selective mitigation methodologies; d ) Advance knowledge base to further develop indicators to evaluate the status and impacts of non-indigenous species in marine environments; e ) Alien Species Alert report for ICES CRR on Pseudo-nitzschia sp. complex in Arctic Regions; f ) Contribute regional text (150 words and 1–2 graphs in each case) to new eco- system overviews for (i) Iceland, (ii) Norwegian Seas, (iii) Azorean ecoregions and (iv) the Oceanic north-east Atlantic ecoregion in relation to the rate of dis- covery of invasive species where information is available. 4 | ICES WGITMO REPORT 2017 3 Summary of the Work Plan Year 1 Working on all ToRs, but with special focus on ToRs b, c, and d. Year 2 Working on all ToRs, but with special focus on ToRs a, c, and e. Year 3 Report on all ToRs 4 List of Outcomes and Achievements of the WG in this delivery period • A review of national activities (16 countries) was conducted to advance re- search, develop collaborations and address surveillance and knowledge gaps in issue related to the introduction and transfer of marine organisms. • It was noted that in both the United States and Canada there were no new spe- cies reported in 2016. However, in Europe several countries reported new sightings including the invasive tunicate Didemnum vexillum in Germany and a new location on an oyster farm in the United Kingdom (Scotland). • The AquaNIS database continues to be the main repository of new non- indigenous species data with each country updating the database annually. Georeferenced data can soon now be stored which will address the needs of OSPAR and other potential users. • Numerous papers and reports have been published collaboratively among working group researchers that have addressed ToR objectives including pub- lications in Nature and other journals. • Two ICES Cooperative Research Reports developed by WGITMO were recent- ly released; an Alien Species Alert on Didemnum vexillum Kott, 2002: Invasion, impact and control CRR#335 and a report on the status of introductions of non-indigenous marine species in the North Atlantic and adjacent waters 2003–2007 CRR#334. • Working group members participated in testing the AS-ISK risk assessment tool and results of this study were discussed, including implications for use. • A theme session for the 2017 ICES ASC on bioinvasion trajectories and impacts in contrasting marine environments will be chaired jointly by ICES-PICES- CIESM. • A scientific