IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), Invasive Species Specialist Group

Invasive alien species (IAS) have been identified as one of the most important direct drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem service changes. Many international policy instruments, guidelines and technical tools have been developed to address this threat. The Bern Convention, with the technical support of the IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, is developing a series of voluntary instruments (codes of conduct and guidelines) covering a number of industries, activities or contexts potentially responsible for the introduction of alien species.

Más del 70% de la tierra está cubierta por océanos y mares mayores y hay más de 1,6 millones de kilómetros de costa. Sin embargo, nuestro mundo marino está en peligro: la peor amenaza es la de las especies marinas invasoras. El folleto no presenta información nueva o primordial, sino más bien una síntesis de las cuestiones y tendencias actuales, incluyendo varios ejemplos de algunas de las peores especies marinas invasoras, su propagación e impacto.

Plus de 70% de la terre sont couverts par les océans et les mers les plus importantes, et l’on compte plus de 1,6 million de kilomètres de côtes. Mais notre monde marin est en danger : la menace la plus insidieuse est celle que causent les espèces invasives marines. Ce fascicule n’apporte aucune information nouvelle ou primordiale ; il est plutôt une synthèse des problèmes actuels et des tendances observées et il donne aussi plusieurs exemples de certaines des pires espèces invasives marines, de leur dispersion et de leurs impacts.

More than 70% of the earth is covered by oceans and major seas and there are more than 1.6 million kilometres of coastline. Yet our marine world is under threat: the most insidious is the one posed by marine invasive species. This booklet does not present new or primary information, but rather a synthesis of current issues and trends, including several examples of some of the worst marine invasive species, their spread and impact. It is targeted at the general public to highlight an important but often overlooked issue, and to serve as a source of information and inspiration.