Strangers hide under the waves

Queen's University Belfast is calling on the public to help find methods to detect and prevent the spread of alien species.

Activities such as aquaculture, boats and ships as well as excursions on the boat have created conditions for many marine species to invade . Queen's is currently trying to accurately identify the location and ways in which species invade new waters. To do this they ask the public to support recording what they see.

Cooperative Marine Aliens (alien marine species) in collaboration with the Scottish Marine Science Association, the project will use the information collected to understand how to slow down or better prevent the process. Intrusion. It is very difficult to eradicate a species when settling in new waters.

Styela clave invasive species discovered in UK waters.(Photo: John Bishop / Marine Biology Association)

Professor Christine Maggs of Queen's College of Biological Sciences said: 'While exotic plant and animal species such as rhododendron and gray squirrel are evident in the British Isles, beneath the waves is a negative invasion. whispers of strange species occur just below our coast '.

'Many strange marine species have left their natural enemies to compete with native species that are capable of catastrophic consequences for aquaculture, tourism and the above activities. other sea '.

'But we can do something for the safety of the species. Anyone who has a boat or traverses the coast can donate by informing scientists about what they see. '

The Marine Alines website's guide will help people identify some of the most dangerous invasive species, including Japanese Sargassum algae - a particularly popular species developed at Strangford Lough, a Chinese crab species released. currently found in Ireland, there are also two species that have not yet appeared, such as Japanese bone shrimp and colonial squid.

Records of marine species must include at least the information on what to see, the location and the time of observation. You can visit www.marlin.ac.uk/rml to provide information, what is observed in Ireland can also be notified via the invasive species website at www.invasivespeciesireland.com.