During the XII International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (ICMB XII), Scientific Coordinator, João Canning Clode, stated:
“We have about 70 invasive or non-indigenous species documented in the region. The problem is not the number, but whether any of them have an impact. In most cases, we do not have species that cause great effects. We have only one, a brown algae, Rugulopteryx okumarae, which grows rapidly and can form large masses on the coast. The Azores and the Canary Islands face bigger problems. Here, we have already identified the species, but are still relatively unaffected.”
The conference, which runs until Thursday, the 9th of October, at the VidaMar Hotel in Funchal, brings together around 280 experts from almost 40 countries. For three days, researchers will discuss vectors of arrival of invasive species, such as marine litter, boats, or currents, as well as management strategies to deal with this worldwide problem.
“It is natural for new species to emerge, so we continue to monitor ports and marinas. Some disappear naturally, others remain, and research is essential to detect and manage these risks,” Clode added.
The specialist highlighted the progress of research in Madeira: “Thirteen years ago, when I started my team, it was just two of us working on this subject. Now, we have 45 researchers at ARDITI and the University of Madeira, and we’ve become a global reference in this field. We’re proud to host this conference and motivate the next generation to carry on our work.”
The event is organised by the Scientific Committee of the Society for the Study of Marine Bioinvasions, together with MARE-Madeira, ARDITI, and the University of Madeira, with the support of several regional and international entities.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
