Invasive species

3.7.2013

Question for written answer E-007869-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Vicky Ford (ECR)

The invasive shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus was first reported in the UK on 3 September 2010 in Grafham Water reservoir in my constituency. This species is an aggressive predator with a high rate of reproduction, making it an extremely successful invasive species with the potential to spread quickly and to cause harm to many freshwater ecosystems. The ‘killer shrimp’ has since been found in Cardiff Bay and Eglwys Nunydd in South Wales, and in March 2012 a further population was found at Barton Broad, in the Norfolk Broads in my constituency.

The shrimp had already colonised parts of Western Europe, killing and outcompeting native freshwater shrimps and even very young fish, and altering the ecology of the habitats it had invaded.

The Commission’s long-delayed legislative proposals to tackle the impacts of invasive alien species might have helped slow the spread of Dikerogammarus villosus across the EU and may have even halted it before it arrived in the UK.

Can the Commission please advise when we can expect to see this draft legislative proposal?

OJ C 56 E, 27/02/2014