Environment's real aliens

Abstract

Last Tuesday's edition of Dissett highlighted the current upsurge in the number of imports of exotic animals, especially reptiles, especially in light of the recent furore over the Bengal tiger cub found in Mosta. Yet, it skirted the issue of non-indigenous (alien) species, merely mentioning the Bedriaga's frog at Ta' Sarraflu in Gozo. In so doing, the programme missed the wood for the trees since alien species, which are inadvertently introduced to our islands, are causing real havoc in the local biodiversity scene. The problem with alien species, especially the Invasive Alien Species (IAS), is so acute that the International Maritime Organisation has listed their introduction as one of the four greatest threats to the world's oceans. The concern is even more real with non-indigenous aquatic species (NAS), due to the interconnectivity of different seas which facilitates the spread of marine species.