BU Research Blog

Over 20 delegates from fisheries and conservation agencies and universities contributed to a seminar at Bournemouth University on the management of emerging and novel fisheries. With rising temperatures and increasing global trade and communications, species that are not native to the North east Atlantic are becoming established around our coast. Most of these are not currently of any concern; however a small proportion can become invasive and cause negative ecological impacts. Yet some non-native species have become beneficial and now support important fisheries, such as the Manila clam in Poole Harbour. There is therefore a tension between developing the economic potential of these new fisheries and risk to biodiversity and species and habitats within protected areas.

Manila clams from Poole Harbour

Photo: John Humphreys jhc Research.

The seminar considered three main questions:

What can we learn from the history of ‘invading’, yet economically valuable shellfish? Is the pattern of spread any different from other invasions?
What are the ecological and economic threats, benefits and opportunities from non-native yet valuable species?
How can we mitigate potential ecological damage through sustainable management and harvesting?

We especially valued contributions from Dr Rosa Freitas and Dr Stefania Chiesa from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, who carry out research on the impacts of some of these species in southern Europe.