Wishart highlights need for action on invasive non-native species

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart has highlighted the need for action to prevent the introduction of non-native species and best practice methods to eradicate species that have already taken hold in Scotland.

In a Member’s debate in the Scottish Parliament Wishart referenced invasive non-native species present in Shetland such as the Orange-striped Anemone, Japanese Skeleton Shrimp, and the Orange-tipped Sea Squirt.

To help limit the spread of invasive non-native species in local waters Shetland Community Wildlife Group and UHI Shetland recommend that boats and structures are kept as free of fouling as possible. They also suggest that personal gear is kept clean and dry when moving between areas and that even small pieces of invasive non-native species should not be put back into the water as some can grow back from tiny pieces. Shetland Community Wildlife Group and UHI Shetland can be contacted by anyone who encounters any invasive non-native species with a location reference, timings, what the specimen was attached to and any photographs.

During the debate Ms Wishart said:

“It really is no exaggeration to say that addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and protecting our environment is a matter of life and death impacting our food sources, habitat and way of life.

“Our greatest defence from Invasive Non-native Species is to stop their introduction.

“We do however need best practice methods to be better to eradicate Invasive Non-native Species that have already taken hold such as Rhododendron which, as we have heard, already grows in vast swathes of Scotland’s rainforest.

“We may not be able to avoid species habitat expansion as our climate changes, though we should not shy away from the challenge to tackle the climate emergency.

“We can work together to limit the problems of invasive non-native species caused by human actions.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

You can watch Ms Wishart’s full speech here.