Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: thedoc on 20/10/2014 14:06:36
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A large group of foreign freshwater species from Turkey and the Ukraine are
poised to invade Britain’s waterways.
Read the whole story on our website by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/news/news/1000577/)
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Neither the Quagga mussels nor the killer shrimps can get into British waterways under their own steam, as they cannot tolerate the marine environment. Once again the seas around our island form a protective barrier. But there is a problem with the huge trade in cut flowers and, more especially, potted plants arriving in the UK from Holland.
The greatest threat in this trade will come from water lilies and other aquatic and marginal plants.
Though restrictions on such imports are in place, the 'open' borders between EU nations and a lack of public information renders these restrictions worthless.
I think it would be safe to say that many Brits visiting Holland will come home with the odd few bits & bobs for their gardens'. A single pond plant with Quagga mussels and or their eggs in the root system is all it might take to begin an unstoppable invasion.
Large signs are needed at ports such as Dover and Harwich and the Euro Tunnel and information leaflets given with all boarding passes.
All we need do then is install coastal signs in waterfowl language to stop some goose on a day trip from Holland inadvertently giving hitch-hiker Quagga mussels or their eggs a lift into Britain.
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Mmmm, shrimps and mussels, without having to go to sea for them. I'll happily eat the invaders.