ICES Advisory Committee on the Marine Environment ICES CM 2004/ACME:05 Ref. E, G Report of the Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms (WGITMO) 25–26 March 2004 Cesenatico, Italy This report is not to be quoted without prior consultation with the General 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. TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 1 OPENING OF THE MEETING AND INTRODUCTION........................................................................................ 1 2 TERMS OF REFERENCE, ADOPTION OF AGENDA, SELECTION OF RAPPORTEUR .................................. 1 2.1 Terms of Reference......................................................................................................................................... 1 2.2 Status of the terms of references ..................................................................................................................... 1 2.3 Adoption of the Agenda.................................................................................................................................. 2 2.4 Selection of Rapporteur .................................................................................................................................. 2 3 REVIEW OF THE 2003 WGITMO REPORT........................................................................................................... 2 4 DISCUSSION PAPER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON COMPREHENSIVE RULES AT EU LEVEL REGARDING INTRODUCTIONS, TRANSFERS AND CONTAINMENT OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS IN AQUACULTURE...................................................................................................................................................... 2 5 PROPOSED NEW INTENTIONAL INTRODUCTION: AN INTER-BASIN TRANSFER OF STURGEONS ..... 3 5.1 Status report .................................................................................................................................................... 4 5.2 Monitoring ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 5.3 Need for information....................................................................................................................................... 5 6 ICES CODE OF PRACTICE..................................................................................................................................... 5 6.1 Changes in APPENDIX F............................................................................................................................... 5 6.2 Genetically Modified Organsms (GMOs)....................................................................................................... 6 6.3 Definition of “quarantine” .............................................................................................................................. 6 6.4 Conclusions..................................................................................................................................................... 6 6.5 Recommendations........................................................................................................................................... 6 7 ICES ADVISORY REPORT ON RAPANA ............................................................................................................. 6 8 ICES NEWSLETTER................................................................................................................................................ 7 9 DISPERSAL VECTORS OF EXOTIC SPECIES ..................................................................................................... 7 9.1 Potential hazard of inoculation of invasive species in Europe by decommissioned US Naval vessels; a case for a primary inoculation in Europe. (Dan Minchin and Roger Mann)........................................................... 7 9.2 Conclusions..................................................................................................................................................... 8 9.3 Recommendations........................................................................................................................................... 9 10 DISSEMINATION OF RELEVANT MATERIAL FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION .............................................. 9 10.1 Conclusions..................................................................................................................................................... 9 10.2 Recommendations........................................................................................................................................... 9 11 INTERACTION WITH PICES.................................................................................................................................. 9 11.1 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 10 11.2 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 10 12 4TH INTERNATIONAL BIOINVASIONS CONFERNENCE IN NEW ZEALAND............................................. 11 12.1 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 11 13 NEW ICES WORKING GROUP ON MARINE SHELLFISH CULTURE (WGMASC) ...................................... 11 13.1 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 11 14 ICES ALIEN SPECIES ALERT REPORTS (TOR A) ............................................................................................ 11 14.1 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 11 14.2 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 12 15 SUMMARY OF NATIONAL REPORTS 1992–2002 (TOR B) ............................................................................. 12 15.1 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 12 16 INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL REPORTS (TOR C) .................................................................................. 12 16.1 Summary and highlights of 2003 National Reports (ICES member countries, countries with observer andguest status)............................................................................................................................................. 13 16.2 New laws and regulations ............................................................................................................................. 16 16.2.1 Live imports, live exports, planned introductions and deliberate releases......................................... 18 16.3 Hippocampus cultivation in Ireland.............................................................................................................. 22 16.4 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 22 16.5 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 22 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page 17 ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF ACCIDENTAL INTRODUCTIONS (TOR D)..................................................... 23 17.1 Bonamia sp. in Crassostrea ariakensis in USA............................................................................................ 24 17.2 Zebra mussels continue their expansion to Irish lakes (Dan Minchin) ......................................................... 25 17.3 Impact of non-native species according to National Reports provided......................................................... 25 17.4 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 27 17.5 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 27 18 RAPID RESPONSE AND CONTROL OPTIONS OF INVADERS (TOR E)........................................................ 27 18.1 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 27 18.2 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 27 19 REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM STUDY GROUP FOR THE NORTH SEA (REGNS)............................................... 28 19.1 Conclusions................................................................................................................................................... 28 19.2 Recommendations......................................................................................................................................... 28 20 RECOMMENDATIONS TO ICES COUNCIL......................................................................................................