MPs say more needs to be done to fight threat of non-native invasive species

A committee of MPs has said that the UK has to do more to fight the threat of non-native species wrecking havoc on other plants and animals.

Japanese knotweed is one of the dangers highlighted in a report by the Environmental Audit Committee which says that there is a danger to biodiversity by supplanting native species

But there is also the possibility of affects upon human health and the economy, with figures for 2012 showing 1,875 non-native species were counted in the UK – a figure increasing by 10 species a year – 282 of which had become invasive.

The chair of the committee, Joan Walley MP, said: "The growth of international trade and travel means more non-native plants and animals are being introduced into Britain than ever before and as our climate changes more species are likely to find a foothold here.

"Not all of these species will become invasive, but the ones that do can harm native wildlife, clog up our waterways, cause costly problems for homeowners and sometimes even harm human health.

"It is too expensive to control or eradicate all invasive species, so we have to be smart and pick the fights that we know we can win.

"We may just have to live with grey squirrels and rhododendrons in much of the UK, but we can and must control other invasive species – like the killer shrimp devastating ecosystems in our rivers and lakes.

"Identifying potentially invasive species prior to arrival is critical as once organisms like the frightening Asian hornet are here, they can be very difficult to control."

The report, Invasive Non-native Species, says England and Wales require improved preventative measures, with new legislation introduced to enable the killing off of non-native species.

The committee also said that existing laws prohibit the release of non-native animals and plants into the wild, but have never been used to prosecute anyone and is unlikely to provide the level of protection needed.

This report comes at a time when the European Parliament is voting on a bill to draw up a blacklist to fight invasive alien species such as killer shrimp and Japanese knotweed spreading.

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