Acronym ASPIM 2
Category
Fisheries
Title Realizzazione di una base conoscitiva concernente l’identificazione e distribuzione nei mari italiani di specie non indigene - Creation of a knowledge base on the identification and distribution of non-native species in the Italian seas . Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National
Coordinator institution
ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Italy)
Institutions involved
NA
Start year 2005 End year 2011 Funding (€) € NA Website NA Summary Non-indigenous species (NIS) represent one of the main threats for world biodiversity, both in the terrestrial and in the marine environment, to such an extent that they are an important subject of several international conventions and directives aiming at safeguarding the environment. Since 2002, the Institute of Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of the Environment, conceived a research project to comply with Article 8h of the Convention on Biological Diversity - aiming at preventing the introduction of, controlling or eradicating those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species - and with Article 13 of the Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity Protocol of the Barcelona Convention - focusing on regulating intentional or accidental introduction of non-indigenous or genetically modified species in nature. This project had the purpose of monitoring marine NIS in Italian seas and, more generally, in the whole Mediterranean Sea which is estimated to be the most invaded sea in the world, counting to date 955 NIS.
Goals:
(1) Definition of the present state of knowledge of the immigration phenomenon through acquisition and analysis of literature on eight selected taxa (algae, ascidians, bryozoans, cnidarians, decapods crustaceans, fishes, molluscs, polychaetes); (2) Realization of a network of expert researchers for recording new sightings; (3) Promotion of a campaign to raise public aware- ness, involving sea operators; (4) Realization and continuous update of NIS database and geo-referenced cartography (GIS) aimed at visualizing temporal and spatial distribution of NIS; (5) Creation of a taxonomic atlas of NIS to be consulted online; (6) Collection of NIS tissue samples for the establishment of an archive available to scientists; (7) Identification of hybrids, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and NIS used for aquaculture and aquarium trade; (8) Experimentation of a monitoring network to identify NIS from ballast waters; (9) Survey of harbour structures; (10) Realization of a network to promote an early warning system.
Keywords
Impacts;
Alien species;
Monitoring;
Mapping;
Marine Region
71
South of Sicily (GSA 16)
47
Ligurian and North Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 9)
48
South Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10)
3
Marine Region Map
