A new warning system is being developed that could reduce the damage caused to Welsh marine industries and native wildlife by non-native or ‘alien’ creatures in coastal waters.

The system will be developed in an 18 month project led by Natural Resources Wales in partnership with the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University.

Early detection will also make attempts to eradicate invasive species easier as their numbers would not be as large or as widespread.

Non-natives species are creatures that have been introduced to UK  waters from outside their natural habitats. This is done mostly by accident through activities such as shipping, recreational boating and cultivating marine species and plants.

While most species brought into Welsh waters are non-threatening and do no harm, some species like the slipper limpets, Chinese mitten crab and the carpet sea squirt can out-compete indigenous species for food and damage the habitats they live in.

Researchers from Bangor University School of Ocean Sciences and specialists from Natural Resources Wales will work closely with marine industries initially in north Wales, on the project. Oyster farmers, marina operators, lobster and crab fishermen will allow these experts to place and collect information from “settlement panels” in the sea at the sites where they work.

Gabrielle Wyn of Natural Resources Wales said:

“The sooner we identify an invasive species - the more chance we have of successfully tackling it or removing it altogether. It will help put us on the front foot and will reduce the environmental and economic damage caused by these species.”

Dr Katherine Griffith, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, said:

"It is now widely recognised that invasive non-native species pose a significant threat to marine biodiversity and hence the functioning of coastal and oceanic ecosystems. Dr Stuart Jenkins and I have a long history of working in this area of research; our current project with Natural Resources Wales aims to develop a robust system for detecting marine non-native species (MNNS) during the early stages of establishment by working closely with the marine industries of Wales.

“Early detection of a MNNS would enable a wider range of management options, which should mitigate the economic and environmental costs associated with invasive MNNS. We hope that by raising awareness and encouraging early detection of MNNS we can increase the UK and Ireland’s capacity to rapidly respond to new marine invasions successfully."