Invasive alien species (IAS) constitute a major pressure in aquatic environments. They represent a major threat to native plants and animals in Europe, causing damage worth billions of Euros to the European economy every year. The risks posed by IAS has been highlighted in the International Convention on Biological diversity with a key focus on preventing movements, as rapid detection, early control and eradication are much less costly that dealing with established populations. Prevention requires collaboration among governments, economic sectors and non-governmental organisations and the development of this APP is the outcome of such a collaboration.

The number of IAS of concern in the aquatic environment is high and the pathways for introductions are numerous. This complexity is an impediment to active engagement by many sectors. The APP narrows the species of concern to those which negatively affect aquaculture or which can be transported with shellfish movements and thus allows industry members to be at the front line of rapid detection, early control and eradication.

The FAO has called for new technology for early detection of IAS and highlighted that information sharing and alert systems need to be rapid and effective. Prior to the introduction of this APP, alert systems to the industry were on an ad-hoc systems which are principally paper based or face to face. The APP allows the flow of information to be instant, validation resources can be quickly deployed and appropriate information sharing systems are agreed at the back end. This will lead to the appropriate responses on a case by case basis supporting the sustainability of our client businesses and the wider environment.

Interest in our IAS work programme has been expressed by the regulatory authorities in NI (DAERA) and going forward we would hope to extend the APP to the full Island of Ireland, this is particularly important as aquaculture is one of the twelve specific areas for cooperation and implementation explicitly set out in the Good Friday Agreement.

The target audience is the aquaculture and fisheries industries and related regulatory bodies in the Republic of Ireland. The app has been developed for Bord Iascaigh Mhara (Irish Sea Fisheries Board) and BIM staff will also access the application.
BIM staff use their BIM login account to access the app. Aquaculture and fisheries people request an account from BIM in order to gain access.
The app is intended for the fishing industry in the Republic of Ireland initially and the general public in the longer term.

he app will primarily be distributed in the Republic of Ireland
The app not intended for internal distribution only