Invasive Non-Native Invertebrate Species

Introduced species

A growing threat to wildlife in the UK comes from the release to the countryside of animals and plants from other parts of the world. Some of these are vigorous competitors or can bring disease that endangers native species. An example of this is the introduction of the American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), which threatens the survival of the White clawed crayfish. There are measures in the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order aimed at preventing damaging introductions. It is an offence to release (or allow to escape) any animal of a kind that is not established in the wild in the UK. In addition, there are lists of animals (mainly from abroad) that are already breeding in the wild in the UK, but should not be released without a licence. Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act includes four invertebrate species: three non-native crayfish and the New Zealand flatworm (Artioposthia triangulata) (see Table 4) below.

Many countries have strict biosecurity laws preventing the import of biological material. People should make sure that they are aware of the relevant laws before taking in or sending any live or dead invertebrates to another country.

Table 4

Note
Northern Ireland
There are no invertebrate species established in the wild in Northern Ireland whose release to the wild there is illegal under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order. However, the importation of live crayfish to Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic is prohibited under other legislation.