Policy and legislation

It is estimated that there are approximately 12,000 non-indigenous species in Europe, of which 10-15% are considered invasive. Given the potential impact of non-indigenous species on ecosystems and the economy, the introduction and spread of these exotic species have for some time been the subject of attention at supranational level in global treaties and agreements, in European regulations and in regional conventions. A series of specific guidelines and codes of conduct on the management of non-indigenous species are also available. Some of the most important legislative and policy instruments valid in the study area are the Law on Belgian Marine Environment Protection and Marine Spatial Planning (MMM Law, 1999), the European Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014), the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) and the International Ballast Water Convention (2004).

This page discusses various regulatory and policy instruments aimed at limiting the harmful impact of the (un)intentional introduction of non-indigenous species by preventing new introductions as much as possible, controlling and eradicating species where possible and providing a management framework for widespread exotic species (see also Verleye et al. 2020).