Guidelines for the monitoring of target non-indigenous species using molecular methods.

Abstract

These guidelines describe the use of molecular methods for detection of target non-indigenous invasive species. The “target species” are those that “meet specific criteria indicating that they may impair or damage the environment, human health, property or resources and are defined for a specific port, State or biogeographic region (IMO, 2007)”. The criteria and procedure for selecting target species are based on the analysis of their relationship with the introduction vector (e.g., ballast water), the basic ecology of the species and their impact on local species, the environment, human health and resource users (Olenin et al. 2016; Gollasch et al., 2020). The Baltic Sea countries have agreed on the list of target species for the Baltic Sea within HELCOM. The list is being continuously revised and updated by a dedicated Correspondence Group.