Status (1980) of introductions of non-indigenous marine species to North Atlantic waters

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has, since 1969, concerned itself with problems associated with introductions and transfers of non-indigenous marine organisms. A Working Group was formed in 1970 to 11••• consider the principles which might govern the introduction and acclimatization of non indigenous marine organisms, especially shellfish and anadromous and catadromous fish species ... 11 One of the early activities of the Working Group was to assemble information from ICES member countries about the status of introduced species, using responses to an elaborate questionnaire covering many aspects of the subject. The available information was summarized in ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 32 (1972) titled 11 Report of the Working Group on Introduction of Non-Indigenous Marine Organisms 11• The report was designed to 11••• form the basis of a reference work which can be continuously revised to cover omissions and additions 11• During the decade of the 1970 1s there have been significant new introductions, and changes in the status of populations resulting from earlier introductions. It seemed timely and necessary for the members of the current ICES Working Group on Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms to update and summarize the present (1980) status of introduced species in member countries. This report is a response to that need; it emphasizes developments since the publication of Cooperative Research Report No. 32 ( 1972).