Has your country put in place mechanisms to control pathways of introduction of alien species in the marine and coastal environment? Please check all that apply and elaborate on types of measures in the space below.
No
Mechanisms to control potential invasions from ballast water have been put in place (please provide details below)
X
Mechanisms to control potential invasions from hull fouling have been put in place (please provide details below)
Mechanisms to control potential invasions from aquaculture have been put in place (please provide details below)
Mechanisms to control potential invasions from accidental releases, such as aquarium releases, have been put in place (please provide details below)
Not applicable
Further comments on the current status of activities relating to prevention of introductions of alien species in the marine and coastal environment, as well as any eradication activities.
A Working Group has been formed to take forward the provisions of the International Convention on Ballast Water within the UK. The UK is also leading in the formation and implementation of a Regional Management Plan for ships ballast water and associated sediments both at OSPAR and through CONSSO. A scoping study has recently been let, which will provide recommendations for how to implement this management plan within the OSPAR region.
In Bermuda ballast water discharge is prohibited. Only native species are allowed in mariculture or as aquarium candidates. Essentially the importation of live exotic marine species is prohibited.
Please elaborate below on the implementation of this programme of work and associated decisions specifically focusing on:
outcomes and impacts of actions taken;
contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Strategic Plan of the Convention;
contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
constraints encountered in implementation.
Agricultural biological diversity
◊ Has your country developed national strategies, programmes and plans that ensure the development and successful implementation of policies and actions that lead to the conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity components? (decisions III/11 and IV/6)
No
No, but strategies, programmes and plans are under development
Yes, some strategies, programmes and plans are in place (please provide details below)
Yes, comprehensive strategies, programmes and plans are in place (please provide details below)
x
Further comments on agrobiodiversity components in national strategies, programmes and plans.
The England Biodiversity strategy (published in 2002) includes a workstream on agriculture. The workstream identifies a number of policy initiatives in the sector that have the potential to benefit biodiversity and a 5 year work programme of actions to address priority issues. This workplan is currently being implemented, though it is too early for out comes to be evident. Good progress has been made in key areas such as the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the review of agri-environment schemes. Additionally in England there are Government targets to reverse the decline in populations of farmland birds and bring Sites of Special Scientific Interest (high value nature areas) into favourable condition.
The National Steering Committee (NSC) for Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR), set up on the basis of a recommendation from the UK Country Report on FAnGR 2002 (see Q32). The Committee consists of NGO’s, research institutes and University Departments, key stakeholders representing the main species interests and the UK’s National Co-ordinator for FAnGR. The main objective of the NSC is to create a National Action Plan (NAP) for the conservation and utilisation of FAnGR in the UK and work on the this currently includes 4 distinct areas of activity: Defining the policy and legislative framework
Identifying and monitoring Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR)
In addition to the NAP, the NSC aims to encourage the conservation and sustainable use of FAnGR and to provide technical advice to the UK Government on related policy matters. The NSC also acts as a forum for stakeholders and advises Government on co-ordinated UK in situ and ex situ conservation programmes, and subsequently evaluate their implementation.
◊ Has your country identified ways and means to address the potential impacts of genetic use restriction technologies on the In-situ and Ex-situ conservation and sustainable use, including food security, of agricultural biological diversity? (decision V/5)
a) No
b) No, but potential measures are under review
c) Yes, some measures identified (please provide details below)
x
d) Yes, comprehensive measures identified (please provide details below)
Further information on ways and means to address the potential impacts of genetic use restriction technologies on the In-situ and Ex-situ conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity.
The UK’s expert Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/acre/) has published a consultation document on best practice in crop design, including an examination of the environmental implications of technologies designed to produce sterile seed. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has funded work on the environmental, social and economic impact of GURT technology which has been published in scientific journals.
