Shipping is understood to be a major pathway for the introduction of marine non-indigenous species (NIS), while its two main methods of transfer are via ballast water and biofouling. While ballast-water exchanges have now entered global regulation, biofouling is not yet managed, and until now has been particularly overlooked. The Mediterranean Sea is the second most popular recreational boating destination worldwide; but the influence of recreational boating as a vector for the spreading of NIS has not yet been assessed here. We present the first large-scale study to examine this sector by using a combined biological (analyzing hull and marina fouling) and social approach (boater surveys on maintenance habits, travel patterns and awareness), with a focus on peracarid crustaceans. We explored the presence of native vs. non-indigenous peracarid species in recreational marina habitats across the Mediterranean Sea; and investigated which aspects of boat owners behaviors influence higher probability of NIS occurrence in biofouling communities colonizing their vessel hulls. A surprisingly high number of NIS were found on vessels cruising Mediterranean waters; and species compositions suggest an exchange between marina and vessel assemblages. This means recreational boating presents a risk for NIS spread which should warrant regulation. Results also imply that each marina the boat visits does pose an ‘infection’ risk; and that management at both the regional and basin-wide scale are both needed in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, a lack of awareness of NIS was demonstrated amongst boat owners, which could be improved upon with targeted environmental education.

Recreational boating as a vector of spread in the Mediterranean Sea: linking boaters habits and peracarids assemblages

Aylin Ulman;Agnese Marchini
2018-01-01

Abstract

Shipping is understood to be a major pathway for the introduction of marine non-indigenous species (NIS), while its two main methods of transfer are via ballast water and biofouling. While ballast-water exchanges have now entered global regulation, biofouling is not yet managed, and until now has been particularly overlooked. The Mediterranean Sea is the second most popular recreational boating destination worldwide; but the influence of recreational boating as a vector for the spreading of NIS has not yet been assessed here. We present the first large-scale study to examine this sector by using a combined biological (analyzing hull and marina fouling) and social approach (boater surveys on maintenance habits, travel patterns and awareness), with a focus on peracarid crustaceans. We explored the presence of native vs. non-indigenous peracarid species in recreational marina habitats across the Mediterranean Sea; and investigated which aspects of boat owners behaviors influence higher probability of NIS occurrence in biofouling communities colonizing their vessel hulls. A surprisingly high number of NIS were found on vessels cruising Mediterranean waters; and species compositions suggest an exchange between marina and vessel assemblages. This means recreational boating presents a risk for NIS spread which should warrant regulation. Results also imply that each marina the boat visits does pose an ‘infection’ risk; and that management at both the regional and basin-wide scale are both needed in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, a lack of awareness of NIS was demonstrated amongst boat owners, which could be improved upon with targeted environmental education.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11571/1227502
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