Basic code for introductions

ANNEX IS DERIVED, with acknowledgements, from part II of a draft framework for the responsible use of introduced species that was prepared for EIFAC by Bartley, Subasinghe and Coates (1999).

The basic code for introductions applies to the intentional movement of aquatic species in fisheries, biological control, aquaculture, and for research. Therefore, someone, some organization, some private business, or some government agency (referred to below as ‘the entity’) must knowingly engage in the act of transporting the species. Guidelines and policy concerning species introduced inadvertently through ballast water or on ship’s hulls are addressed elsewhere, for example by the International Maritime Organization. Development projects that involve geographic changes, such as river diversion, dredging of canals to connect distinct water bodies, etc. also may involve the subsequent introduction of exotic species and therefore this framework could also be used in the review and evalu ation of those projects.
The basic code contains the requirements that:
i) the entity moving an exotic species develop a proposal, that would include location of facility, planned use, passport information, and source of the exotic species;
ii) an independent review that evaluates the proposal and the impacts and risk/bene fits of the proposed introduction, e.g. pathogens, ecological requirements/interac tions, genetic concerns, socio-economic concerns, and local species most affected, would be evaluated;

iii) advice and comment are communicated among the proposers, evaluators and deci sion makers and the independent review advises to either accept, refine, or reject the proposal so that all parties understand the basis for any decision or action, thus pro posals can be refined and review panel can request additional information on which to make their recommendation;
iv) if approval to introduce a species is granted, quarantine, containment, monitor ing, and reporting programmes are implemented; and
v) the ongoing practice of importing the (formerly) exotic species becomes subject to review and inspection that check the general condition of the shipments, e.g. check ing that no pathogens are present, that the correct species is being shipped, etc.
The Code is general and can be adapted to specific circumstances and resource availabili ty, but it should not lose any of the above requirements nor should it lose the rigour at which the requirements are applied. For example, a regulatory agency may require a pro posal to contain a first evaluation of the risk/benefits and this evaluation would then be forwarded to an independent review or advisory panel; or the advisory panel could make the first evaluation of a proposal. Similarly, States may require quarantine proce dures to be explicitly described in the proposal before approval is granted.