Addressing marine invasive alien species in Turkish seas

MarIAS (Addressing Invasive Alien Species Threats at Key Marine Biodiversity Areas) project is committed to improving the country’s legal and institutional infrastructure to counter the threat of invasive alien species. In the light of this aim, a "By-law on Prevention and Management of Introduction and Distribution of IAS” has been drafted in line with the EU Legislation, and National Invasive Alien Species Committee and National Invasive Alien Species Technical Advisory Groups have been established under the existing National Biodiversity Coordination Board. 

To address potent threats in the long term, the project has also enabled the development of Türkiye’s first strategy and action plan to combat invasive alien species and restore the ecosystems they have harmed. The new strategy, which is comprised of 11 components covering 57 actions to be realized between 2024 and 2035, is aligned with regional, national and international best practices.

The objective (mission) of the Strategy is to coordinate and cooperate at the national and international levels on the implementation and measures concerning issues such as the introduction, detection, monitoring, control, and prevention/mitigation of invasive alien species. The strategy has been prepared within the framework of three main objectives under this mission:

1. Preventing the entry of IAS that harm all sectors, early detection, rapid intervention, monitoring, combating and preventing damage in order to protect biodiversity, ecosystem services, economy and public health;
2. Restoring or improving invaded habitats and ecosystems;
3. Supporting all efforts in the field of combating IAS on an international and national scale and increasing Türkiye's effectiveness in this regard.

The coordination of the National Invasive Alien Species Strategy and Action Plan will be undertaken by the National Invasive Alien Species Committee.

Capacity building, knowledge and information sharing to address the marine invasive alien species threats are of major importance in terms of protecting marine ecosystems. 

The project initiated national scale capacity building activities via a scientific conference, which was organized between 21-23 November 2022 in Antalya, to discuss how to overcome the adverse impact of marine invasive alien species on ecology, livelihoods, economy and public health in Türkiye. Bringing together all the stakeholders working in this field, the conference served as a platform to share information on the ecological and economic effects of marine invasive species and the activities to eradicate, mitigate, and control them in the country and at a global level. Presentations by renowned experts focused on the destruction caused by lionfish, water hyacinth, rapa whelk and other species. This conference also acted as one of the significant steps towards developing the national policy in combating these species, as the solutions discussed at the conference stood out to guide enhancing the resilience of marine and coastal ecosystems. MarIAS project also organized a follow-up International Symposium on Ballast Water and Biofouling Management in Invasive Alien Species Prevention and Control on 28-30 November 2023 in Antalya.

The Turkish National Invasive Alien Species Data and Information System (TurIST) has been designed in line with the findings of the conferences and stakeholder consultations and launched in 2024 as a database covering 181 different species, to help scientists and policymakers by showing where invasive alien species are congregating and measuring the ecological, economic and social damage they cause. TurIST is expected to facilitate international cooperation to enable joint action aimed at solving the common problem. The real-time database will continuously receive data from fishers and local NGOs to provide experts and policymakers with up-to-date information. 

In the meantime, Biosecurity and Quarantine Mechanisms Guidelines were produced for critical sectors, and serial trainings were held for fishers, divers, and marine transport sector representatives with the participation of governmental institutions, Turkish Coast Guard, NGOs, and local communities at the pilot sites, including fishermen, Central Union of Fisheries Cooperatives, divers, aquaculture, commercial boating, and maritime transport sector representatives, and the Women Fishing Association. The trainings aimed to increase knowledge and awareness on IAS threats, impacts, mitigation measures, and best practices.

The project also invested in raising awareness of invasive alien species in schools and the preparation of primary and secondary school lesson plans. In the 2022-2023 academic year, around 9,000 students working with 300 teachers were reached, highlighting the adverse effects caused by marine invasive alien species on ecology, economy and public health. 

Testing and piloting a variety of IAS management and control strategies is crucial for developing experience and know-how. For this purpose, IAS management frameworks, i.e., IAS Management Plans, have been developed at four pilot sites of the project. The implementation of management plans has been initiated starting from Ayvalık Islands in 2023 and will be completed at all pilot sites by the end of 2024.

MarIAS project has also developed Harvest Incentive Programs for the Indo-Pacific origin lionfish (Pterois miles), Atlantic starfish (Asterias rubens), puffer fish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) populations, offering solutions on how to control them and integrate them into the economy. As part of the implementation of these Harvest Incentive Programs, a fishing derby and gastronomy event for lionfish, a diving contest to collect starfish,  and a community activity for removal of water hyacinth from the Asi River and along the Mediterranean coast at Samandağ were carried out. The lionfish derby in Keldağ was followed by a tasting of different lionfish recipes, in an effort to popularize the hunting and consumption of lionfish among Hatay residents. Local divers participated in a small-scale tournament, competing to collect as many starfish as possible from the shores of the Marmara Islands, and the winners were rewarded with a scuba dive computer, a dive bag, and a dive torch. The community water hyacinth removal event targeted water hyacinths, which block waterways and channels and also prevent sunlight and oxygen from reaching the water column and submerged plants due to their very rapid reproduction and spread, thus negatively affecting transportation, tourism, and fishing activities, as well as causing much destruction to the ecosystem and a significant decrease in biodiversity.