Collecting ballast water samples in Svea. (Photo: Chris Ware).
Text: Eva Therese Jenssen, UNIS
In 2011 researchers from the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Tromsø University Museum, the Institute of Marine Research, and the University of Tasmania started investigating the potential for shipping to facilitate species introduction to Svalbard, and the risk that introduced species would have impact on this vulnerable High Arctic region.
So far only two studies have investigated shipping as a pathway for species introduction to the Arctic and both focused on the North American Arctic. The Svalbard project, entitled “Arctic Stowaways”, is the first study ever to focus on the European Arctic.
Prevention over eradication
One of the most serious pressures on the natural environment today is the impact caused by introduced species. In the marine environment it is almost impossible to eradicate non-native species once they have been introduced.
Shipping to Svalbard has expanded significantly over the last couple of decades, according to the Governor of Svalbard. No true alien marine species have been recorded as established in Svalbard waters. But with the expected climate warming researchers fear that a range of southerly species might establish themselves in the High Arctic. The challenge is that alien species are often introduced to new environments by human activities. In the ocean the dispersion of non-native species is often facilitated by ballast water or “hitchhiking” on the ships’ hulls. In other words, marine species may “stowaway” on ships and invade new habitats. From other parts of the world we know that shipping is responsible for the introduction of several particularly invasive alien species.
So according to the scientists, the best and most effective way to prevent invasion in High Arctic waters is to introduce management regulations that prevent ships from introducing new species.
This project has received funding from the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund, Tromsø University Museum and the Fram Centre.
This article was first published in the Fram Forum 2013.