|
Name |
Native to |
Introduced to |
Impact |
|
Cholera Vibrio
cholerae (various strains) |
Various strains with broad ranges |
South America, Gulf of Mexico and other areas |
Some cholera epidemics appear to be directly
associated with ballast water. |
|
Cladoceran Water Flea Cercopagis pengoi |
Black Sea and Caspian Sea |
Baltic Sea |
Reproduces to form very large populations that
dominate the zooplankton community and clog fishing nets and trawls, with
associated economic impacts. |
|
Mitten Crab Eiocheir
sinensis |
Northern Asia |
Western Europe, Baltic Sea and West Coast North
America |
Undergoes mass migrations for reproductive purposes.
Burrows into river banks and dykes causing erosion and siltation. Preys on
native fish and invertebrate species, causing local extinctions during population
outbreaks. Interferes with fishing activities. |
|
Toxic Algae (Red/Brown/ Green Tides) Various species |
Various species with broad ranges |
Several species have been transferred to new areas
in ships' ballast water |
May form Harmful Algae Blooms. Depending on the
species, can cause massive kills of marine life through oxygen depletion,
release of toxins and/or mucus. Can foul beaches and impact on tourism and
recreation. Some species may contaminate filter-feeding shellfish and cause
fisheries to be closed. Consumption of contaminated shellfish by humans may
cause severe illness and death. |
|
Round Goby Neogobius
melanostomus |
Black, Asov and Caspian Seas |
Baltic Sea and North America |
Highly adaptable and invasive. Increases in numbers
and spreads quickly. Competes for food and habitat with native fishes
including commercially important species, and preys on their eggs and young.
Spawns multiple times per season and survives in poor water quality. |
|
North American Comb Jelly Mnemiopsis
leidyi |
Eastern Seaboard of the Americas |
Black, Azov and Caspian Seas |
Reproduces rapidly (self fertilising hermaphrodite)
under favourable conditions. Feeds excessively on zooplankton. Depletes
zooplankton stocks; altering food web and ecosystem function. Contributed
significantly to collapse of Black and Asov Sea fisheries in 1990s, with
massive economic and social impact. Now threatens similar impact in Caspian
Sea. |
|
North Pacific Seastar Asterias
amurensis |
Northern Pacific |
Southern Australia |
Reproduces in large numbers, reaching 'plague'
proportions rapidly in invaded environments. Feeds on shellfish, including
commercially valuable scallop, oyster and clam species. |
|
Zebra Mussel Dreissena
polymorpha |
Eastern Europe (Black Sea) |
Introduced to: Western and northern Europe, including Ireland and
Baltic Sea;eastern half of North America |
Fouls all available hard surfaces in mass numbers.
Displaces native aquatic life. Alters habitat, ecosystem and food web. Causes
severe fouling problems on infrastructure and vessels. Blocks water intake
pipes, sluices and irrigation ditches. Economic costs to USA alone of around
US$750 million to $1 billion between 1989 and 2000. |
|
Asian Kelp Undaria
pinnatifida |
Northern Asia |
Southern Australia, New Zealand, West Coast of the USA,
Europe and Argentina |
Grows and spreads rapidly, both vegetatively and
through dispersal of spores. Displaces native algae and marine life. Alters
habitat, ecosystem and food web. May affect commercial shellfish stocks
through space competition and alteration of habitat. |
|
European Green Crab Carcinus
maenus |
European Atlantic Coast |
Southern Australia, South Africa, the United States
and Japan |
Highly adaptable and invasive. Resistant to
predation due to hard shell. Competes with and displaces native crabs and
becomes a dominant species in invaded areas. Consumes and depletes wide range
of prey species. Alters inter-tidal rocky shore ecosystem. |
Reference:
http://globallast.imo.org/poster4_english.pdf