Number and cumulative number of marine non-indigenous species in Europe's seas, 1970-2020

The figure shows the number of new non-indigenous species (NIS) reported by marine region. The line-bar chart shows the total number of new introductions of NIS (grey bars) and by main species group (lines) reported in Europe’s seas combined and by marine region, per 6-year interval between 1970 and 2017. The stacked column charts show the cumulative number of new NIS introductions by main species group, in Europe’s seas combined and by marine region, per 6-year interval between 1970 and 2020.

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Methodology

National inventories of NIS were revised and updated with published data from biodiversity and hot-spot campaigns, academic surveys, and citizen science observed until December 2020 (reported until June 2022). Revised list was validated with the contribution of national experts.
Microalgae and parasite/pathogen species identified are excluded.
Cryptogenic, questionable and range-expanding species identified are also excluded from all analysis.
Native, partly native species identified are excluded at EU level but included in sub-regional assessments for subregions where they have not been identifies as native.

Units

Number of new NIS and cumulative number of new NIS

Additional information

• NIS registered in more than one regional sea are recorded in each; regional (and sub-regional) assessments thus do not add up to the pan-European assessment since the latter only considers species once. See additional figure for results by subregion.
• The latest assessment cycle consists of only 3 years (2017-2020).
• Due to the time lapse between observation and publication, the rate of introduction for the most recent years (2019-2020), is an underestimate.

Number and cumulative number of marine non-indigenous species in Europe's seas, 1970-2020

Related content

References and footnotes