A world-renowned lake in Palau, an island nation 800km east of the Philippines, is currently being invaded by a prolific species of anemone. It is taking over more than half of Jellyfish Lake, a tourist attraction that lures thousands of visitors to Palau each month




Jellyfish Lake’s invasive anemone is being discussed at a meeting co-hosted by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), which has gathered about 50 Palauan experts, government officials, NGOs and other specialists to discuss how to start addressing the threats posed by invasive species in the marine environment.
    The invasion of Jellyfish Lake, which lies within a conservation area, is a clear example of the risks associated with tourism. Sharon Patris, who has been studying the distribution of this anemone in the lake, said: “It is almost certain that the anemone was introduced by the tourists visiting the lake, as at the beginning, its distribution was limited to the area near the dock. Even though the anemone is native to Palau, it is alien to the lake and is currently disturbing the delicate equilibrium of this unique ecosystem.”
Marine Protected Areas generate a significant attraction for marine tourism, including recreational boating, yachting, diving and snorkelling, and where allowed, fishing. All these activities increase the risks of introducing non-indigenous marine species.
Imène Meliane, Marine Programme Officer for the World Conservation Union, said: “Efforts to address marine invasive species in most of the world have focused on ports and harbours, but it is also important to pay attention to high value areas, such as marine protected areas, because these are often the first points where invasive species spread after ports.”
The intentional and unintentional transfer of species around the world has boomed in recent decades. Many seas and regions have been invaded by a high number of non-native marine species. Some of these species thrive in their new habitats, out-competing native species and changing ecosystems, sometimes dramatically. “Invasive species, marine or terrestrial, represent one of, if not the most, dangerous threat to our islands,” said the President of Palau, Tommy E. Remengesau, in his opening speech.
There are already several introduced species that have been recorded in Palau during regular dives by members of the Coral Reef Research Foundation. The known introduced hydrozoan, Eudendrium carneum, is found in the channel linking Babeldaob to Koror and may have been introduced by the floating bridge that was transported from China in 1995. The species is currently found in two other channels south of Koror. Dr Patrick Colin, from the Coral Reef Research Foundation, said there are also 20 species of probable introduced ascidians and hydroids that have been recorded in Palau’s waters.
A prerequisite for efforts to manage the introductions and spread of invasive species in the marine environment of Palau is to know the occurrence, current distribution and abundance of these species. A baseline survey provides this basic information and is critical to enable development of management measures. Baselines of both native and introduced biodiversity greatly enhances management efforts and reduces response time when an incursion occurs, according to Professor Chad Hewitt, of Australian Maritime College.
Participants at the meeting will undertake training on baseline survey design and identify the locations that are most at risk to be points of introductions. These include source points of introductions but also areas of high value and protected areas.
The meeting will also help develop policies and procedures to prevent and control marine invasive species. It comes as the result of nearly two years of efforts by the local Invasive Species Committee to start addressing invasive species in the marine environment, often forgotten in comparison with their terrestrial counterparts.
Joel Miles, Palau’s National Invasive Species Coordinator, said: “The invasion of Jellyfish Lake is unfortunate, but it is hopefully a wake up call for all of us, and reinforces the importance of prevention, monitoring and early response actions that we need to put in place in order to maintain Palau’s most precious marine resources and our livelihoods.”
For more information contact:
Imène Meliane, Marine Programme Officer; tel: +(506) 241 0101; fax: +(506) 240 9934; e-mail: imene.melianeiucn.org
Carl Gustaf Lundin, Head, IUCN Global Marine Programme; tel. +41 22 999 0204; fax +41 22 999 0025; e-mail: carl.lundiniucn.org; web: www.iucn.org/marine
Sarah Halls, IUCN Media Relations Officer; tel: +41 22 999 0127; fax: +41 22 999 0020; e-mail: sarah.hallsiucn.org; web: www.iucn.org

（引自www.iucn.org    2007年7月26日）