The Sustainability of Trade in Invertebrates: project in development

Background

The legal trade in invertebrates imported into the UK is intensifying and diversifying. Invertebrates are used for a variety of purposes such as for pollination, pest control, pets, food or as novelties, ornaments or collectors' items. Species include molluscs, crustaceans, bumblebees, wasps, cockroaches, millipedes, ants, scorpions, beetles, moths and butterflies.

Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) adult & pupa © Bev Wigney Crocodile Pbase Gallery

The source is often obscure: they are obtained either from the wild, bred from wild individuals or from long-standing captive or farmed populations. In some cases the take from the wild may be sustainable and there may be an economic case for the retention of natural habitat that may otherwise be destroyed. Alternatively, collection or farming of invertebrates for trade may damage wild populations and/or their habitats. Invertebrates imported live may escape into the wild and the impacts of this is largely unknown e.g. the Harlequin ladybird. The lack of analysis and information means that the consumer is unable to differentiate between material obtained sustainably, and trade that is encouraging environmental destruction in the country of origin and risking ecological damage in the UK.

To investigate the sustainability and risk associated with the legal trade in invertebrates. All taxonomic groups except Lepidoptera will be considered. The results of the study will be available to policy-makers, conservationists, media and consumers, with a view to facilitate informed decision making.

No review has been carried out on the sustainability of the invertebrate importation retail sector. There have only been a small number of limited studies on one group, tropical butterflies. This project will undertake a comprehensive review of the current commercial activities and will carry out a compatibility study of the role of national legislation at both ends of the trade and international legislation governing the trade.

To assess the sustainability impacts of the trade in invertebrates imported into the UK, primarily in terms of ecological impacts both at source and in the UK, and to disseminate this information to key audiences.

• Much of the trade is not transparent - the project will review the current situation and will make that information widely available.
• Commercial trade for agriculture, aquaculture and recreation is high volume, with a high likelihood of escape. This project will carry out a risk assessment on the effect that imported invertebrates or their parasites pose to the sustainability of UK biodiversity.
• The range of invertebrates available grows, it is ever more difficult for potential customers to understand sustainability issues associated with the trade. This project will address this information gap.

Invertebrate Link – an association of NGO and statutory entomological and conservation organisation, of which Buglife is a member - has for many years raised concerns over the sustainability in the commerce of invertebrates. This project will address & answer their concerns.

• A better informed public will drive industry to vet imports and exports of invertebrates hence ensuring that its activities are sustainable.

• Not only will this project help to ensure that this area of commerce is sustainable, but, by highlighting areas where the trade is already sustainable, the project has the potential to sanitise the trade’s image and encourage an expansion in a sustainable trade in invertebrates.

• The findings will influence governments to review existing legislation on endangered species and work towards a unified global approach towards legislating on endangered species.

• This project will assist in raising the profile of the environmental foot print of commerce, the consumption of unsustainable products has a dramatic impact on local environments e.g. the conversion of mangroves into shrimp farms destroys the natural habitat of all local wildlife including invertebrates whilst the chopping down of palm trees in order to remove exotic beetles for exportation can potentially have a devastating effect on palm plantations.

• Conservation organisations are unfamiliar on this subject as a conservation issue, but are likely to be receptive to any findings that indicate that they should be concerned about aspects of the trade.

• For policy and law makers it is not clear what the implications of this trade are for UK Plc. The results will be used by those looking at both the importance of the associated economy and the potential associated sustainability issues.

• The leaflet clarifying which trading is most sustainable, which will follow the MCS Good Fish Guide will be user friendly and widely available in both hard copy format and downloadable from our website. The leaflet will continue to be available after the project has been completed and if necessary could be updated to incorporate future changes to invertebrate ecology.

• The report into the findings will form the focus of the conference and in addition to being circulated to attendees will be distributed to all relevant parties & media.