2012

2014

The research project will study the distribution of alien species and the extent of harm they cause, as well as the ways and routes of spread within Finland, to Finland and from Finland to other countries. The project will compile information on the best control methods of invasive species and the cost-efficiency of control measures as well as on potential new funding sources that could be used in Finland to control alien species and reduce the risks they cause. The research project will also produce information for an alien species risk analysis, especially on aquatic organisms, mammals, ornamental plants and plant pests. The HAVINA project aims to promote the implementation of the national strategy on invasive alien species by creating the conditions for the efficient use of all existing information that different administrative sectors have on alien species and for the collection of new information and to encourage cooperation between administrative sectors and national operators involved in alien species work. HAVINA will bring together knowledge and expertise of the institutes of the LYNET research consortium and provide a good basis for the implementation of the national strategy on invasive alien species in various habitats. The project aims to promote the implementation of the strategy by identifying the best environment, implementation method and future maintenance for the alien species web portal. The aim is to link existing information and to produce and add new information on alien species, especially on invasive alien species, to the portal, and to establish a website where the public and research institutes can report their observations of alien species. In the project, the FGFRI will study the extent of harm that alien fish and mammal species cause and the most prominent ways and routes of their spread. The fish and crayfish species of marine areas and inland waters included are Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). The mammals on which information will be produced are American mink (Neovison vison), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). In addition, the FGFRI will study the spread of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) and Echinococcus. Information on the distribution of the most important alien mammal and fish species and marine invertebrates will be collected, and the extent of harm that they cause will be assessed, also taking into account the potential for their exploitation. The extent of adverse effects will be assessed in terms of predation, competition and spread of diseases. In addition, the impact on native species and ecosystems will be assessed. For example, the effects of the Prussian carp on native species, the harm it causes at the ecosystem level and its control will be examined as a case example. The spread of the round goby in coastal areas will also be studied. The extent of adverse effects caused by alien mammal species will also be examined with the help of case examples (raccoon dog/American mink), and a template will be developed for the assessment of other mammal species (North American beaver, white-tailed deer). Assessments by the FGFRI will be based on existing materials, such as information on game bag and fish catches, wildlife triangle and field triangle count materials and material included in the Finnish Fish Atlas, which all include information on the occurrence of species. Information on the occurrence of the North American beaver can be obtained from the nest counts carried out at intervals of a few years. As regards fish, material collected earlier will be analysed and supplemented with additional sampling. The web portal on the Baltic Sea alien species will be further developed and published, and linked with the HAVINA alien species portal, for which alien species-specific pages will be produced.