The Management of Invasive Species in Marine & Coastal Environments Module 7 Developing a National Strategic Framewo

1. The Management of Invasive Species in Marine & Coastal Environments Module 7 Developing a National Strategic Framework

2. Module 7 Objectives • Outline the essential components and content of a national strategic framework for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) management • Describe the key steps in the development and implementation of a national framework

3. Context of IAS Management • Involves a wide variety of stakeholders • Must comply with international/regional obligations • Must cover marine freshwater & terrestrial environments In order to deal with invasive alien species, a National Strategic Framework will need to be established.

4. National Strategic Framework should include the following elements: • A national IAS strategy • Operational Arrangements (Action Plan) for the implementation of the strategy • Institutional arrangements and responsibilities (whose job is it? Who decides? How will agencies work together?) • Legal / regulatory aspects

5. Steps in the Development of a National Strategic Framework • Designation of Lead Agency • Establishment ofTask Force • Assessmentof the IAS problem • Development of National StrategyandAction Plan • Implementationof the National Strategy, including: • - appropriate institutional structures • - legal framework • - Action Plan

6. Lead Agency • Has principal responsibility for coordinatingthe development & implementation of the National Strategy; • It is more common to designate an existing agency as the lead agency. However, creating a new entity is an alternative option; • No particular agency is always best suited – depends on: • the constitutional structure in the country • The departmental/agency configuration • The legal/regulatory aspects. • The capability and resources of existing agencies

7. Lead Agency Has a Lead Agency been designated in your country? Which is it? Does it play only a coordinating role?

8. IAS Task Force • Membership should include all major stakeholders • Should be established early on in the strategy development process • Should be the precursor to a cross-sectoral • advisory body for the implementation stage • May form sub-groups to provide specialist input – for example, a Marine Task Group • The Chair of each group would then be on the • Task Force

9. Marine Task Group Which agencies do you think should be, or are involved in the management of marine and coastal invasives in your country? How much contact is there between these agencies? And with other relevant stakeholder groups?

10. Marine Task Group Membership should comprise representation from all major stakeholders, such as: • Environmental administration including coastal management. • Fisheries/marine resources administration. • Health/quarantine administration. • Transport/shipping administration • Port and harbour authorities • Industry (e.g. mariculture, shipping associations, oil & gas, mining) • Research community/academia. • Environmental and other Non-governmental organisation(s), as appropriate. • Indigenous people(s), local community groups (as appropriate)

11. Assessment of the IAS Problem • What are the main pathways of introduction? • What invasive species are already present, and what damage are they causing to the environment, resources, trade, health, livelihoods of rural communities? • Are Protected Areas at risk? • What are the economic costs? • What are the existing institutional & legal arrangements? • Are stakeholders and the general public aware of the issue? • What are constraints to managing IAS?

12. The National Strategy • Describes the vision, overall objectives and scope, national policies, principles and practices • Should be consistent with relevant international requirements and other national commitments • Should identify key agencies and organisations responsible for implementation of the actions required • Should describe how coordination and co-operation between the various agencies will be achieved • Should integrate IAS issues into other national strategies (agriculture, forestry, fisheries etc)

13. The National Action Plan • The National Strategy includes high level actions based on the issues identified in the assessment • The Action Plan translates these into more specific activities with responsibilities, timelines, funding etc: For example: - in 2006, the Ministry of …. Will develop/revise the relevant legislation - in 2007, the University of …. Will establish a monitoring programme with funding from … • Must address the constraints identified in the assessment

14. Components / Content of National Strategy • Status and trends of IAS in the country: identification of priorities • Main sectors (e.g. type of industry) pathways, vectors and particular risks, • Identify government departments / agencies at all levels (e.g. including regional) that have a mandate relating to IAS, and their roles and responsibilities under the strategy • Procedure/system for cooperation within and between relevant agencies (and sectors and institutions as appropriate) • Procedures/system for stakeholder participation • Relevant legislation and regulations as well as proposals for addressing gaps that were identified in the review stage

15. Components / Content of National Strategy cont. • Outline of criteria for risk analysis, management planning and mitigation • Requirements related to monitoring, • Requirements / systems for training and capacity building • Where appropriate, specific measures or policies for isolated and biodiversity-rich ecosystems (e.g. islands and archipelagos, protected areas) • Requirements for recovery of species/ecosystems affected by IAS and ways to promote use of native species • Requirements for public awareness efforts • Research requirements • Funding issues

16. Implementing the National Strategy • Establishing the recommended institutional arrangements • Putting in place an appropriate legal frameworks • Implementing the Action Plan (i.e. more specific aspects of the strategy)

17. Legal and Institutional Frameworks • Law is used to implement policy objectives and determine principles, standards and procedures to achieve them • Allocates rights and responsibilities amongst the roleplayers • Legal and institutional systems underpin the mandate to act to address issues such as IAS • Establishing effective institutions is one of the most important roles of legislation, though this is often underestimated

18. Common Weaknesses of Existing National Law and Institutions Some common problems include: • Fragmented legal and institutional frameworks (cross-sectoral nature) • Weaknesses related to coverage and terminology (eg. marine invasives) • Inconsistencies in provisions • Problems related to compliance, enforcement and remedies

19. Key Requirements for National Legal frameworks • Consistency in definitions and use of terminology • Comprehensive geographic coverage (all ecosystems) • Must provide for all aspects of IAS management • Prevention • Early detection/ rapid response • Eradication • Control & mitigation (longer term)

20. Implementation of the Action Plan • Implement prevention measures • Develop contingency plans • Introduce management plans for existing invasives • Establish monitoring and surveillance around key entry points

21. Has a National Strategic Framework been set up in your country to deal with Invasive Alien Species? • If so, does this framework focus on terrestrial, aquatic freshwater or marine or does it take responsibility for invasive alien species in general? • A National Strategic Framework can be constituted with representatives from the following groupings or departments: • coastal management including fisheries/marine resources administration. • Health/quarantine administration. • Transport/shipping administration • Industry (e.g. mariculture, shipping associations, oil & gas, mining) • Science community/academia. • Environmental management • Non-governmental organisation(s), as appropriate. • Indigenous people(s), local community (as appropriate) • If you do not know of a National Strategic Framework in your country, which groupings could serve as representatives of the above, in a lead agency? • Who would take overall responsibility for dealing with IAMS? • What kind of strategy can you think of for dealing with an invasion on a national, provincial and municipal/local level i.e. how would the reporting structure work, who would carry out the contingency plans, who would do the work at the location where invasion took place, who would they report progress to etc. • A lead agency normally works on a national level, what kind of supporting structures would you have to deal with provincial problems and problems on a municipal/local level.

22. If there is a lack of a framework it may be due to the following factors. How would you address these problems in your country? • low public awareness and opposition to government intervention; • shortage and inaccessibility of scientific information (for species identification, risk analysis, detection and mitigation techniques etc.); • absence of clear and agreed priorities for action; • ease of introduction and movement (e.g. through the post), inadequate inspection and quarantine; • inadequate monitoring capacity; • lack of effective emergency response measures; • outdated or inadequate legislation; • poor coordination between government agencies, countries and other stakeholders