ATTACHMENT 7.

ACTION PLAN

Regarding Invasive Species in the Caspian Sea with special reference to the Comb Jelly Mnemiopsis

Preamble:

The present action plan was prepared based on findings presented at the first and second international workshops on the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi held in Baku, Azerbaijan, 24-26 April 2001, and 4-5 December 2001, where the problem of the invasion of the Caspian Sea by this harmful organism was discussed. Conclusions and recommendations of these workshops form the basis of this action plan.

Introduction:

1. The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, the most recent invader to the Caspian Sea, is native to the coastal areas of northern America and first appeared in the Black Sea in the early 1980s, having been accidentally introduced with ballast water of ships. Since then, its population has exploded in the Black Sea, and its range has expanded to include the seas of Azov and Marmara, as well as the eastern Mediterranean. It is detrimental to zooplanktivorous fish populations as a predator; Mnemiopsis also eats the pelagic eggs and larvae of the fish themselves. Mnemiopsis is blamed for the collapse of commercial fisheries in the Black Sea in the second half of 1980s and Azov sea in the 1990s.

2. In 1999, Mnemiopsis was first identified in the Caspian Sea, presumably after being introduced with ballast waters. The Caspian Sea is a completely isolated basin with mostly favorable conditions for Mnemiopsis development throughout the year. Penetration of Mnemiopsis into the Caspian Sea may create a great problem for its fisheries, judging from the Black and Azov seas’ situation. The Caspian Sea is the most important fishery for sturgeon in the world. The first effect of the Mnemiopsis invasion was recorded in 2000 that is comparative with the Azov sea situation and much sooner than its effects were seen in the Black Sea. In all seas a decrease of zooplankton biomass and a sharp reduction in small pelagic fishes stock were observed. These effects became exacerbated in 2001, with significant drops in fisheries and impaired reproduction in the Caspian seal.

3. Mnemiopsis has expanded in the Caspian Sea, in 2001 at a rate sufficient to reach levels that could critically endanger the current functioning of the ecosystem and pose grave risks of extinction to a range of species, mainly invertebrates, but also fish (kilka and other species, including beluga sturgeon). Loss of biodiversity as well as economic loss are beginning to result therefrom.

4. If adequate measures for decreasing the Mnemiopsis population are not undertaken immediately, the effect of Mnemiopsis on the Caspian Sea ecosystem will be disastrous.


I. Present State of Mnemiopsis Population in the Caspian Sea

5. The results of the ichthyoplankton survey in the summer of 2000 showed that the main accumulations of the comb-jelly Mnemiopsis were identified in the middle and south Caspian on the eastern shelf. Occasional occurrence was reported for the coastal zones.

6. In May 2000, Mnemiopsis was registered in the western part of the mid-Caspian Sea, near Nabran settlement, in the Northern Absheron Gulf, coastal waters of the islands Pirallahi (Artem) and Oil Stones, and in the western part of Southern Caspian – from Shikhov to Bandovan areas, on offshore oil fields Chirag, Azeri, Nakhichevan, Oguz, on gas field Shakh-Deniz, along pipeline Chirag-Sngachal terminal, and in the waters of Sangachal terminal.

7. The maximum biomass of this ctenophore in summer 2000 in the south Caspian Sea in Iranian waters was 470 grams per meter squared (g/m²) in the Turkmen and Gomishan regions and none was observed in the surface waters of Amirabad.

8. Studies on the vertical distribution of Mnemiopsis showed that it was most dense in the warm surface water layers (3-5m) above the thermocline zone; lesser densities occurred in the cold bottom water layers at depths of 30-35 m.

9. In October 2000, a large number of Mnemiopsis were found in the North Caspian at the Zhemchuzhny Island, in the marine zone of the Volga-Caspian ship channel (depths 5-6 m) and in the northeastern area in front of the delta, (depths 4-5 m) where the water salinity is less than 5 ppt due to the Volga River freshwater inflow.

10. In 2001, no major concentrations of Mnemiopsis were seen until July, but in August very high abundances were noted along the Iranian coast and in the West of the South Caspian. The threshold value of 1 kg m^-2 was repeatedly overshot, with peaks of up to 3 kg m^-2 in Azerbaijan waters, where most kilka fishing stopped. Concentrations were much lower in fresher parts of the Caspian, like in the North-West, in the Kazakh sector. Information on Turkmenistan is rather incomplete and inconclusive.


II. The Basis for Cooperative Actions

Principles

11. The precautionary principle should be applied according to the Guidelines on inland fisheries and species introduction specified by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and documents of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) including the 2000 CBD Interim Guiding Principles for the Prevention, Introduction and Mitigation of Impacts of Alien Species.

12. Any action involving an introduction of an alien species should be preceded by a rapid and independent review of the proposal for introduction by a group of experts on biological invasions, with adequate knowledge of Mnemiopsis, according to the FAO and CBD guidelines on the precautionary approach on inland fisheries and species introduction.

13. Cooperation among all Caspian Sea basin states should be promoted.

14. The involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of this action plan should be promoted.

15. Public participation should be fostered through the wide dissemination of information of the work undertaken to control Mnemiopsis in the Caspian Sea as well as through public involvement in the low-cost monitoring.

16. Caspian Environment Programme extends the Term of References of the Regional Mnemiopsis Advisory Group and renames it as the Regional Invasive Species Advisory Group (RISAG). Terms of reference of this group are given in Appendix 8.


III. Priority Actions

17. Landmark for action was reached. The landmark of 1 kg m^-2 (+/- 10%) (wet weight, uncorrected for net effects), corresponding to the Black Sea level of 1988, was repeatedly reached and overshot. In April 2001, it was agreed that this would signal immediate and appropriate steps to be taken. An extensive review of the effects of Beroe on the populations in the Black sea and sea of Azov was conducted, and laboratory experiments in Iran and Russia, involving predation of Beroe on Mnemiopsis and alternative prey were analysed. It was found that zooplankton and fish in the Black Sea showed signs of recovery, following spectacular effects of Beroe on the abundance of Mnemiopsis. Little or no side-effects of Beroe could be found, although there are residual difficulties in reproducing Beroe in aquarium condition, and the whereabouts of both Mnemiopsis and Beroe in the field during winter remain uncertain.

18. Advisory Group has reached the consensus that a proposal to be formulated under the banner of the CEP for the release of the Beroe into the Caspian Sea. Details of procedures for obtaining approval from the five littoral states are yet be finalized. A controlled introduction of Beroe to the Caspian can be conducted from the Iranian and Azeiri shores, releasing a few hundreds of specimens at each location, in summer 2002.

A. Monitoring of Mnemiopsis, Beroe, zooplankton, and fish

19. Full scale ecological monitoring of all major components of the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea should be performed several times throughout the year.

20. Special Mnemiopsis and Beroe surveys should be conducted in the Caspian Seas as frequently as available means permit. Each biological or fisheries research expedition in the region should include measurements of Mnemiopsis.

21. Low-cost monitoring should be done using secondary school classes, fishermen, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), oil companies and other volunteers. Guidelines for these participants should be developed and widely distributed by the summer 2002.

22. A standard methodology for monitoring should be further developed and introduced, especially in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan..

23. Standard sampling equipment should be used in the region. The appropriate funds should be found for this purpose.

B. Development of a database on Mnemiopsis

24. An additional module for the Caspian Sea Information System should be developed. It will include information on all Mnemiopsis publications, an expert database, an institute’s database, and a detailed data inventory.

25. Copyright and data ownership issues should be discussed and agreed to among the regional research institutions, and a Mnemiopsis database should be established for all Mnemiopsis-related data. Intellectual property right over data deposited in the database will be honoured, and data that are unpublished may be kept in confidentiality, until their owners (individuals or institutions) lift the embargo on them.

C. Laboratory Studies

26. Laboratory study of Mnemiopsis’ predatory impact on the pelagic community of the Caspian Sea has been initiated.

27. Research on the ctenophore Beroe ovata should be continued:

• Interactions of Beroe with local plankton,
• Interactions of local fishes with Beroe,
• Interactions of Mnemiopsis and Beroe in the Caspian water,
• Determination of optimal conditions for transport of Beroe to the Caspian region,
• Ability to cultivate large quantities of Beroe in the Caspian region, and to close its life cycle in captivity.
• Parasitological research.

28. Laboratory studies of other possible biological agents eating both Mnemiopsis and Beroe (e.g. the fish Peprilus triacanthus) should be conducted to consider as a possibility for introduction at a later stage.

D. Biological Control

29. A search for local control agents should be pursued. This research should be conducted in local laboratories. Experiments on the feeding of Mnemiopsis by Caspian predators should be conducted in local scientific institutions.

30. In understanding that the decision on any possible alien species introduction should be made (in consensus) by all Caspian countries, any action involving an introduction of an alien species should be preceded by a rapid and independent review of the proposal for introduction by a group of experts on biological invasions, with adequate knowledge of Mnemiopsis, according to the guidelines on the precautionary approach on inland fisheries and species introduction of FAO and CBD.

31. The Code of Practice on the introduction and transfer of marine organisms developed by ICES and the 2000 CBD Interim Guiding Principles for the Prevention, Introduction and Mitigation of Impacts of Alien Species should be used as reference guidelines if any biological control measures are proposed.

E. Ballast Water Control

32. As part of the CEP Regional Invasive Species Advisory Group activities in developing regional strategy and management plans, focusing on prevention of new invasions of alien species to the Caspian region (as well as prevention of spread of Caspian species worldwide), a common methodology for ballast water management and other shipping-related vectors should be developed in accordance with guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In particular, the possibility of full de-ballasting or disinfections of ships at Astrakhan should be investigated. These activities should be implemented in cooperation with the relevant international programs (GISP and GloBallast).


IV Financing the Action Plan

33. Funding for the actions agreed to in this action plan may be secured from domestic, regional or international sources, through general public funding, as well as through grants and loans. Specific projects for international funding should be prepared for bilateral or multilateral funding. Donor conferences for assisting in this process should be held


V Implementation of the Action Plan

34. The present action plan should be implemented by the Caspian countries through the Regional Invasive Species Advisory Group with assistance from the Caspian Environment Programme at the initial stage.

35. It is advised that the Regional Invasive Species Advisory Group will submit a semi-annual report to the PCU on the progress made in implementing this action plan. The report should also contain recommendations for enhancing implementation and adjustment of this action plan.