This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27039714
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU blacklist to stop spread of alien species | EU blacklist to stop spread of alien species |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The European Parliament has approved new legislation to stem the spread of invasive species such as "killer" shrimp or Japanese knotweed. | |
| There will be a ban on the possession, transport, selling or growing of species deemed as of "Union Concern". | There will be a ban on the possession, transport, selling or growing of species deemed as of "Union Concern". |
| The list was going to be restricted to 50, but will now have no limit. It is not clear which species will be banned. | The list was going to be restricted to 50, but will now have no limit. It is not clear which species will be banned. |
| A deal between EU member states effectively means the bill will become law within a few months. | |
| It came on the day that British MPs slammed current government policy on controlling alien species as "not fit for purpose". | |
| Biodiversity loss | Biodiversity loss |
| The economic and ecological damage caused by non-native species such as the so-called killer shrimp and demon shrimp originally from the Black Sea, the Asian Harlequin ladybird or Japanese knotweed are estimated to cost Europe some 12bn euros every year. | The economic and ecological damage caused by non-native species such as the so-called killer shrimp and demon shrimp originally from the Black Sea, the Asian Harlequin ladybird or Japanese knotweed are estimated to cost Europe some 12bn euros every year. |
| In the UK the bill is at least £1.7bn. | In the UK the bill is at least £1.7bn. |
| Experts say such insects, plants and animals are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss and species extinction. | Experts say such insects, plants and animals are one of the major causes of biodiversity loss and species extinction. |
| They can also spread disease and cause health problems such as asthma, dermatitis and allergies. | They can also spread disease and cause health problems such as asthma, dermatitis and allergies. |
| The new law will require member states to analyse how troublesome species enter the country and to improve surveillance systems. | The new law will require member states to analyse how troublesome species enter the country and to improve surveillance systems. |
| Official checks at EU borders will be stepped up. Action plans on how to manage established invasive species also have to be developed. | Official checks at EU borders will be stepped up. Action plans on how to manage established invasive species also have to be developed. |
| MEP Pavel Poc, who guided the legislation through the European Parliament, said: "Efforts are very often not effective simply because those species do not respect geographical boundaries. Co-operation between member states is therefore crucial." | |
| Garden plants | Garden plants |
| Wednesday's report from the Environmental Audit Committee welcomes the strengthening of the rules. | Wednesday's report from the Environmental Audit Committee welcomes the strengthening of the rules. |
| Committee chairwoman Joan Walley MP told the BBC: "The UK has to be ready to take on board the step changes that there will be as a result of the European decision. | Committee chairwoman Joan Walley MP told the BBC: "The UK has to be ready to take on board the step changes that there will be as a result of the European decision. |
| "People are travelling more, and international trade means there are all kinds of opportunities which there previously weren't for non-native species to come in to the UK. | "People are travelling more, and international trade means there are all kinds of opportunities which there previously weren't for non-native species to come in to the UK. |
| "We need to have a regime that is fit for purpose to deal with this before it gets out of hand." | "We need to have a regime that is fit for purpose to deal with this before it gets out of hand." |
| While welcoming the overall aim of the legislation, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is concerned about the lack of clarity around the new powers. | While welcoming the overall aim of the legislation, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is concerned about the lack of clarity around the new powers. |
| Guy Barter, RHS chief horticultural adviser, said: "There is a rhododendron that is highly invasive. It is called Rhododendron ponticum. It would be a candidate for any list of prohibited plants, but we reckon it is in the parentage of as many as 300 garden plants. | Guy Barter, RHS chief horticultural adviser, said: "There is a rhododendron that is highly invasive. It is called Rhododendron ponticum. It would be a candidate for any list of prohibited plants, but we reckon it is in the parentage of as many as 300 garden plants. |
| "So if the legislation included Rhododendron ponticum and its hybrids, that would affect 300 useful garden plants. This is certainly a concern. It would mean that gardens would be less rich as gardeners wouldn't be able to buy these plants." | "So if the legislation included Rhododendron ponticum and its hybrids, that would affect 300 useful garden plants. This is certainly a concern. It would mean that gardens would be less rich as gardeners wouldn't be able to buy these plants." |
| Voracious predators | Voracious predators |
| The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) currently has its own guidelines on restricted species. | The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) currently has its own guidelines on restricted species. |
| Defra has made assurances that member states will have flexibility in how they implement these rules. | Defra has made assurances that member states will have flexibility in how they implement these rules. |
| A Defra spokesperson said: "This report recognises we have the most advanced approach across Europe in tackling the threat of invasive non-native species, helping identify and prevent the spread of plants and animals that don't belong here." | A Defra spokesperson said: "This report recognises we have the most advanced approach across Europe in tackling the threat of invasive non-native species, helping identify and prevent the spread of plants and animals that don't belong here." |
| There are an estimated 12,000 alien species in Europe and 2,000 in Britain. | There are an estimated 12,000 alien species in Europe and 2,000 in Britain. |
| However only a minority are invasive and have seriously negative impacts. For example wheat or barley or sheep are not native to the UK and do not cause problems. | However only a minority are invasive and have seriously negative impacts. For example wheat or barley or sheep are not native to the UK and do not cause problems. |
| Relative newcomers like killer and demon shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes) are voracious predators. | Relative newcomers like killer and demon shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes) are voracious predators. |
| It has been fewer than five years since they were found in England but they have already spread to lakes and waterways in many different parts of the country. | It has been fewer than five years since they were found in England but they have already spread to lakes and waterways in many different parts of the country. |
| Lucy Anderson from the University of Leeds led a research project into killer shrimp. | Lucy Anderson from the University of Leeds led a research project into killer shrimp. |
| She found that they hitchhike in the kit of fishermen and canoeists and spread to new waterways. They can survive out of the water for up to two weeks. | She found that they hitchhike in the kit of fishermen and canoeists and spread to new waterways. They can survive out of the water for up to two weeks. |
| "Invasive species can have a huge impact on our native species. They can out-compete them for food and for resources, they can also introduce diseases which our native species aren't resistant to, so wiping them out completely. It's a huge problem," she said. | "Invasive species can have a huge impact on our native species. They can out-compete them for food and for resources, they can also introduce diseases which our native species aren't resistant to, so wiping them out completely. It's a huge problem," she said. |
| 'Considerable damage' | 'Considerable damage' |
| Her colleague Dr Alison Dunn added: "One of the important things we need to do is stop them spreading further. | Her colleague Dr Alison Dunn added: "One of the important things we need to do is stop them spreading further. |
| "We would encourage water users when they have been somewhere to stop when they have finished and check their equipment to see there are not any of these invaders on it." | "We would encourage water users when they have been somewhere to stop when they have finished and check their equipment to see there are not any of these invaders on it." |
| A new investigation currently being carried out by the university seems to show that killer shrimp are killed off by water from a hot tap. This would provide a useful tool in the fight to contain the species. | A new investigation currently being carried out by the university seems to show that killer shrimp are killed off by water from a hot tap. This would provide a useful tool in the fight to contain the species. |
| Demon shrimp have been studied extensively by Dr Alex Ford, from the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. | Demon shrimp have been studied extensively by Dr Alex Ford, from the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. |
| "Certainly from the aquatic environment we need to be doing a lot more to tackle the control of species already causing havoc within our UK streams, rivers and estuaries and harbours. | "Certainly from the aquatic environment we need to be doing a lot more to tackle the control of species already causing havoc within our UK streams, rivers and estuaries and harbours. |
| "In addition, we need to be doing a lot more to prevent them being introduced in the first place and giving them the ability to take hold. | "In addition, we need to be doing a lot more to prevent them being introduced in the first place and giving them the ability to take hold. |
| "Species such as American crayfish, demon and killer shrimp are causing considerable damage to British ecosystems and we don't currently know whether they also pose a biosecurity threat in terms of parasites and disease they being with them." | "Species such as American crayfish, demon and killer shrimp are causing considerable damage to British ecosystems and we don't currently know whether they also pose a biosecurity threat in terms of parasites and disease they being with them." |