Joint project to address invasive alien species at seas

'Invasive alien species'

Turkey's coastline stretches 8,333 km, bordering four different major seas: the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara and Black Seas. These extensive marine ecosystems support Turkey's overall high level of marine biodiversity.

In total, nearly 5,000 plant and animal species have been identified in Turkey's marine waters. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) have been identified by the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs (MFWA) as one of the principal threats to Turkey's marine biodiversity. Approximately 450 IAS have been reported on the coasts of Turkey.

In the 2011 national review of Invasive Alien Species in marine waters, It was found that 66 percent of the total IAS in Turkey's coastal waters arrived via the Suez Canal while 30 percent arrived via ship transport.

The aims of the project

The project aims to minimize the negative impacts of Invasive Alien Species in order to support the conservation of the globally significant native biodiversity of Turkey's coastal and marine ecosystems. The project aims to ensure resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems through strengthened capacities and investment in prevention, detection, control and management of Invasive Alien Species. The project also seeks to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, to the extent relevant and feasible within the scope of the project. In order to achieve the project objective, and address the barriers, the project's intervention has been organized into three components.

Main components of the project

The project will achieve its objective through working on three components.

Component 1. Effective national policy framework on marine Invasive Alien Species

• Regulations on introduction, early detection, prevention and management of IAS in marine and coastal wetland ecosystems developed and submitted for adoption.
• Main pathway and vectors for IAS identified
• Protocols and quarantine mechanisms consistent with bio-security requirements and international standards for IAS in marine and coastal wetland ecosystems in place
• Fiscal incentives introduced for effective removal of IAS (e.g. Lion fish, Balloon fish) in marine and coastal wetland ecosystems (to encourage selective fishing and removal of IAS by fishers) jointly with MFAL.
• Regulations and standards on control, minimization and removal of IAS from ballast water developed jointly with MTMAC and put for enforcement
• Sustainability and Replication mechanism: National Strategy and Action Plan on IAS in marine and coastal wetland ecosystems developed and approved to inform future actions on identifying priority habitats and species to be protected, evaluating financial and socio-economic effects of action/inaction for marine and freshwater IAS based on a thorough cost/benefit analysis.

Component 2. Capacity building, knowledge and information sharing systems to address the IAS threats

• Inter-sectoral multi-stakeholder Advisory Technical Board under Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs with increased capacity to deal with IAS prevention, early detection, rapid response, management and eradication
• Information system with official list of prohibited IAS, modules on risk analysis, early warning response and monitoring for IAS in marine and coastal ecosystems is in use by government regulators. The system enables a comprehensive inventory and monitoring of IAS threats at the most sensitive marine and coastal habitats and species (posidonia meadows, coralligenous, sea turtles, anchovy, mussel, oyster), as well as measures to detect and prevent entry of risky IAS at key points of entry.
• Engagement with shipping industry, and transport and customs sectors, on implementation of regulations and standards on control, minimization and removal of IAS from ballast water; and on procedures for regulating the entry of species for ornamental and aquaculture purposes to mitigate the introduction of marine and freshwater IAS.
• Increased knowledge and awareness on IAS threats, impacts, management options and best practices for relevant industries, enterprises (aquaculture, transport, custom, tourism, etc.) media, security forces (gendarme), schools etc. through a comprehensive national communication, outreach program and delivery of community training

Component 3. Investment in sustainable management, prevention, eradication, and control of IAS and restoration of IAS- degraded habitat at key marine and coastal areas

• Management plans designed and launched for 4 areas (İğneada, Kırklareli; Marmara Islands, Balıkesir; Ayvalık Islands, Balıkesir; Samandağ, Hatay) with identification of site-specific measures for prevention, ensure eradication, control and management of IAS
• Measures to detect, control spread of IAS at the target sites in collaboration with local communities, and targeted restoration of ecosystems degraded as a result of IAS.
• Support for the recovery of native species disturbed by IAS at selected sites