Common Hull Fouling Invasive Species

The table below provides a list of high-profile invasive aquatic species that are capable of being translocated via biofouling. This list is indicative and there are numerous other species involved in serious invasions which have been recorded around the world.

Name	Native to	Introduced to	Impact
Asian paddle crab Charybdis japonica	North-west Pacific (China, Japan, Korean peninsula) to east Asian Seas (Thailand, Malaysia)	New Zealand	May carry the White Spot Syndrome virus which can affect crustacean mariculture. Can affect biodiversity through either predation or by indirectly altering trophic levels.
Colonial tunicate Didemnum vexillum	North-west Pacific	North-east and north-west Atlantic, north-east Pacific, New Zealand	This species is an aggressive invader and is able to reproduce sexually or asexually. Fragments of the species are able to disperse, reproduce, reattach and thrive. This species fouls hydrotechnical constructions, ships, aquaculture infrastructure and cultured molluscs. It affects the biodiversity of existing communities as it outcompetes for habitat or simply grows over or smothers existing species.
North Pacific seastar Asterias amurensis	North-west Pacific	North-east Pacific, southern Australia	This species is a voracious carnivorous feeder. They are prolific breeders and are able to quickly establish large populations in new areas. The species is a serious pest to native species, such as the endangered spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus), as the seastar preys on the fish’s egg masses. The species’ preference for mussels, scallops and clams ensures that it impacts mollusc aquaculture and wild fisheries.
Asian green mussel Perna viridis	Persian Gulf through to the Philippines, east Asian seas and up to eastern China	Caribbean, south Atlantic, south Pacific	Tolerates wide fluctuations of salinity and temperature and reaches high densities. This species fouls hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure. It affects the biodiversity of existing communities and can alter trophic levels.
Black striped mussel Mytilopsis sallei	North-west Atlantic, Caribbean and south Atlantic	India, east Asian seas (Malaysia, Singapore), south Pacific, north-west Pacific (Japan, China)	Tolerates wide fluctuations of salinity and temperature. Highly fecund, grows and reaches maturity rapidly. This species is capable of forming dense aggregations, impacting biodiversity as they exclude most other species. The fouling of hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure with this species causes corrosion, technical problems and loss of efficiency.
European fan worm Sabella spallanzanii	North-east Atlantic, Mediterranean	South-west Atlantic, southern Australia, New Zealand, north-west Pacific	This species is highly fecund and is able to form mat-like, dense populations on the seafloor. The species can tolerate wide ranges in salinity and successfully fouls artificial structures such as hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure. The species competes with native filter-feeding organisms for habitat and food. It is possible that dense formations alter water flow, sediment stability and bacterial communities due to their efficiency filtering particulate matter from the water column.
Bay barnacle Amphibalanus improvisus	Thought to be the east coast of north-east and north-west Atlantic	South-west Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, north-west Pacific, east Asia seas	This species is fast growing and gregarious. It has high reproductive potential; being able to reproduce sexually and asexually. Tolerates wide fluctuations of salinity and temperature. The fouling of hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure with this species causes corrosion, technical problems and loss of efficiency. Able to affect biodiversity, change community structures and alter trophic levels.
Wakame seaweed Undaria pinnatifida	North-west Pacific	Mediterranean, north-east Atlantic, south-west Atlantic, north-east Pacific, south-east Australia, New Zealand	This species is able to rapidly colonise temperate regions; it can colonise any hard surface and is therefore able to foul hydrotechnical constructions, ships and aquaculture infrastructure. Able to affect biodiversity, change community structures and alter trophic levels.
European shore crab Carcinus maenas	North-east Atlantic, Baltic Sea	West Africa (Mauritania to South Africa), Mediterranean, north-west Atlantic, south-west Atlantic (Panama to Argentina), east Africa (Red Sea to South Africa, including Madagascar), Japan, north-east Pacific, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, south Pacific, south-eastern Australia	The adult specimens of this species are able to withstand wide ranging temperature and salinity fluctuations. It is able to reside in damp air exposed environments for up to 10 days and tolerate up to 3 months of starvation. However, when able to feed, this species is a voracious predator, preying on molluscs and other crustaceans, including commercially important species. Apart from impacting on native species through predation, this species disrupts existing community structures through competition (habitat and food) and behavioural activities (burrowing).