It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Marshall Islands Shuts Down Insurer With "Dark Fleet" Ties
The tanker Liberty aground in the Strait of Malacca (KSOP Kerimun)
The corporate registry of the Marshall Islands has taken the rare step of shutting down a maritime insurer, Continental Steamship Owners Mutual Protecting & Indemnity Association, according to Bloomberg.
Continental was a non-International Group P&I club with a web presence that began in 2020. It had no listed office address, but was registered to the Trust Company Complex in Majuro, Marshall Islands, the mail-forwarding address used by the Marshall Islands' Virginia-based offshore registry administrator. Though the firm's true address may be hard to find, Continental's two phone contact numbers suggest a link to Estonia.
Continental has now been "forcibly dissolved," the Marshall Islands' registry administrator told Bloomberg, for violating a ban on insurance activities.
Continental was the insurer of about two dozen "dark fleet" tankers, according to Lloyd's List, including the tanker Liberty - an aging Suezmax that went aground in the Strait of Malacca on December 2 with a million barrels of Venezuelan oil aboard. Liberty remained aground for a week before her cargo was lightered off, and she was finally refloated Thursday.
Liberty was an example of a risk that shipowners and regulators have warned about for some time: aging "dark fleet" tankers appear to pose an outsize risk of marine casualties, and their lesser-known insurers may or may not be able to cover the nine-figure damages associated with a major accident. As the reputable International Union of Marine Insurers (IUMI) puts it, many of these ships have a "severe lack of insurance," posing financial risk to other ships and to coastal states in the event of a casualty.
The "dark fleet" phenomenon dates back to the imposition of U.S. restrictions on Iranian and Venezuelan oil, but has accelerated rapidly as Russia seeks out new capacity to carry its crude exports. The Western "price cap" sanctions regime on Russian crude exports has prompted tanker operators to exit the trade and sell older tonnage to anonymous upstarts, some Russian-controlled.
IUMI notes that operating practices in this fleet do not consistently align with industry standards. Many of these vessels show signs of improper maintenance, have missed their inspections, or operate with their AIS transponders turned off, raising the risk of a spill or collision.
Liberty is the latest example of the possible outcomes, but not the first. In May, the Iran-affiliated tanker Pablo blew her main deck off while at anchor off Malaysia, killing three crewmembers. The ship was 26 years old and had changed her name seven times in five years.
Family Fishing Trip Turns Up Unknown Wreck on Lake Michigan
Courtesy Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The Wollak family of Peshtigo, Wisconsin came back with something big from a fishing trip this summer: the location of a lost sail freighter, 10 feet under the waters of Lake Michigan.
This summer, Tim Wollak and his daughter Henley were out fishing in Green Bay when they spotted what looked like a wreck on their boat's echo sounder. It wasn't familiar, so Wollak posted images online. The news eventually reached the Wisconsin Historical Society and the state's Department of Natural Resources, and the agencies sent out staff to survey the site with a small ROV. While its identity hasn't been formally confirmed, all of the data lines up with a lost barkentine, the George L. Newman.
Courtesy Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Built in 1855 in Ohio, the Newman was a 120-foot, three-masted sailing cargo vessel. She was lost to a tragic fire on October 8, 1871 - but not a fire on board. Newman's crew were attempting to transit out of Green Bay during the Great Peshtigo Fire, the deadliest wildfire in American history, and the crew had almost no visibility due to the heavy smoke drifting over the water. They ran aground on Green Island, in the middle of Green Bay, and their ship was unrecoverable. They salvaged some of its cargo of timber and were taken in by the lighthouse keeper.
According to the historical society, the wreck was forgotten and eventually covered by sand. Now that it has been found again, thanks to the Wollak family, it will be surveyed in detail for possible listing on the National Historic Register.
“I don’t know how we top it,” Tim Wollak told local WLUK. “I guess we’ll just have to fish more and see if we can find more shipwrecks.”
A superyacht yard in Turkey lost its floating drydock on Wednesday, according to maritime authorities.
Turkey's General Directorate of Maritime Affairs reports that a floating drydock at a repair and construction yard in Kocaeli went down during a docking procedure. The midsize 145-meter dock belonged to Yachtley, a repair and newbuild yard in Kocaeli's free zone.
The incident occurred while bringing a yacht into the dock, according to the directorate. The vessel scheduled for repair appears to have escaped unharmed, and 24 workers were rescued safely from the drydock.
A dramatic bystander video (above) captured the dock's twin cranes rolling down their tracks as one end of the structure settled below the surface. Photos from the scene show that the dock came to rest in water shallow enough that the tips of the crane booms remained visible.
An administrative investigation has been opened by the Kocaeli Regional Port Authority. No environmental pollution was reported, the agency said, though a slick was visible in drone videos taken by local media (below).
The Yachtley shipyard was founded in 2005, and its listed projects are in the 50-90 meter class. Prominent newbuilds include the opulent 80-meter superyacht Elements, built in 2018.
Report: Russian Sub Probes Ireland's Defenses, Loiters Off Cork Harbor
The Russian Navy has discovered an apparent weak spot in the UK's maritime defenses - Ireland, whose underresourced navy guards the UK's western flank. According to the Irish Examiner, the Irish Navy's two operational patrol vessels lack submarine-detecting capability, leaving the nation dependent on the UK Royal Navy for sub-hunting duties.
A newly-disclosed incident just off Cork appears to illustrate the challenge for Ireland's stretched naval forces. According to the Irish Examiner, a Russian submarine loitered outside of the 12-nautical mile line off the coast of Cork, accompanied by a nominally civilian Russian surface vessel. The sub stayed there until a Royal Navy frigate and antisubmarine warfare helicopter arrived on scene.
The Irish Navy has not had a vessel with operational sonar since the 1990s, according to the outlet, and only has two operational patrol vessels left. It is critically shorthanded, to the point that it has hired a third-party recruiter to try to fill specialty billets with foreign nationals.
Russian naval activity has been on the rise off the British Isles for several years, and close-in patrols like the one at Cork have happened several times, according to the report.
In April, the Russian pipelay barge Fortuna - famous for its role in completing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline - circled off Ireland's west and southwest coast, under tow by the Russian anchor handler Umka and escorted by the salvage tug Bakhtemir. The area hosts more than a dozen subsea cables connecting the British Isles with the rest of the world, including one cable that was recently installed. This Russian patrol raised concern in Irish defense circles, and the Irish Air Corps was dispatched to photograph the Russian convoy.
Pirates Thought to Control Bulgarian Bulker as it Sails Toward Somalia
Contact has been lost with the bulker Ruen which was likely hijacked by unknown pirates (Navibulgar file photo)
Pirates likely from Somalia are thought to be in control of the Navibulgar dry bulk carriers Ruen. The shipping company told Bulgarian media that it has not had direct contact with the ship since yesterday. The last signal from the security officer was that they were not in control of the vessel but that the crew was safe.
Speaking on Bulgarian TV, Alexander Kalchev, director of the company, said “We expect the kidnappers to contact us. The area where the ship was last detected is not a pirate area.”
The company lost contact with the vessel which was built in 2016 and is registered in Malta while it was approximately 380 nautical miles east of the island of Socotra, Yemen in the Arabian Sea. The vessel, which is 41,600 dwt, was traveling from Korea bound for Turkey. There are 18 crewmembers aboard including eight from Bulgaria.
The reports are saying it is unclear since there has been no contact if the incident is at all related to current problems in Yemen or possibly a resurgence of Somali piracy. Reuters however is reporting it had contact with the rebels in the Puntland region of Somalia who are saying they have managed to seize a vessel.
A brief AIS transmission was detected from the vessel earlier today approximately 24 hours after it was thought to have been seized. Earlier reports had said the vessel was drifting and yesterday UK security consultant Ambrey said the vessel had been sailing erratically. The recent signal shows the vessel traveling due west toward Somalia at 12.3 knots.
It would be the first capture of a large commercial vessel by Somali pirates since 2017. An international security effort was successful in reducing the threat over the past few years. However, there was a recent report from Somalia that a small commercial fishing vessel had been seized and was being held for ransom. Those reports said the pirates were threatening to use the ship as a mother vessel for more attacks, but EUNAVFOR later said the pirates had been handed over to the Somali authorities and that the threat was over.
The United States has also blamed the recent boarding of the tanker Central Park on Somali pirates. A team from the U.S. Navy captured five individuals who boarded the ship and said that after meeting with them the indications were that they were from Somalia.
The joint European security operation EUNAVFOR reports today that a Spanish destroyer the Victoria was proceeding at a fast speed to “the alleged pirate-hijacked vessel to gain more awareness and evaluate following actions.” They said they would also be coordinating with the Combined Maritime Force based in Bahrain.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assembled a specialized team to handle the situation. Malta as the ship’s flag state reports it is also monitoring developments.
United Kingdom Trade Organization also issued a security warning today alerting ships of potential piracy activity off the Somali coast. They have posted the warning to run through December 17.
Hapag and MSC Containerships Attacked as Red Sea Situation Escalates
UKMTO reports at least two of the incidents took place near the Yemen port of Mokha (UKMTO)
The situation in the Red Sea continues to escalate with Houthi rebels increasing their attacks on shipping as they vow to stop all ships with ties to Israel. Both Hapag-Lloyd and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company are confirming reports that their vessels have been attacked while the Houthis are saying they launched the attacks only after the vessels failed to respond to orders either not to enter the Red Sea or to sail toward Yemen.
Warships from the United States, France, and now a British destroyed dispatched into the region, as well as other allies, were unable to intercept today’s attacks. An unidentified U.S. spokesperson told the wire services that a U.S. destroyer had been dispatched after the attacks to provide assistance but it appears no warships were near the targeted vessels and no attempts were made to shoot down drones or missiles. United Kingdom Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a warning early today saying it had a report of a small white vessel with a black top and 10 people aboard approaching at least one vessel saying it was the Yemeni Navy and ordering it to sail toward a port in Yemen,
Hapag-Lloyd confirmed to the wire services that one of its vessels had been struck by a projectile and suffered some damage although the crew was uninjured. The Liberian-registered Al Jasrah (149,380 dwt) was stuck with reports saying it was unclear at this time if it was from a drone or a missile. UKMTO reports that there was an explosion and a small fire aboard the vessel was extinguished by the crew. Late today. US CENTCOM said it believes the containership was hit by a UAV launched from Houthi held territory as it was travelling south in the Red Sea.
The Al Jasrah which was built in 2016 and has a capacity of 14,500 TEU is reported to be heading from Piraeus, Greece to Singapore. The vessel was 30 miles southwest of the port of Mokha, Yemen in the vicinity of the Bab El Mandeb Strait when it was attacked. UK security consultants Ambrey in its account of the attack said the vessel was struck on the port side causing some damage. One or more containers are thought to have been lost overboard due to the impact which caused the explosion and subsequent fire. CENTCOM reproted it was in contact with the vessel that alter told them that it did not require further assistance.
The Houthis in their statement did not mention the attack on the Al Jasrah, instead highlighting the targeting of two containerships operated by MSC, including one with a similar name. Speculation is that the attack on the Hapag ship might have been an error.
The MSC Alanya (120,000 dwt) also registered in Liberia was one of the two vessels targeted and also has similar dimensions to the Hapag vessel. The ship, which was built in 2021 and has a capacity of 11,500 TEU, had departed Salalah, Oman and was bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
MSC confirmed to the wire services that the vessel was approached by a small boat demanding that it not enter the Red Sea. The vessel was ordered to head south according to CENTCOM but instead continued toward the Red Sea. Its location is unclear from the reports and MSC insists that the vessel was not attacked. Security reports are that the ship took evasive measures with CENTCOM reported it continued north and was believed to be traveling safely.
Security services and the Houthi are saying they also targeted the MSC Palatium III (34,300 dwt), a smaller vessel also registered in Liberia. The ship was coming from Mombasa, India and bound for Jeddah. Two ballistic missiles were fire towards the international shipping lanes in the Bab el-Mandeb strait CENTCOM reports. The MSC ship was 23 miles southwest of Mokha and reported that it was hit by one of the missiles. CENTCOM reported that the crew said it was fighting a fire and requested assistance. The USS Mason was responding to the ship. The British monitoring service reported late today that a vessel, believed to be the MSC Palatium III had departed the area safely,
CENTCOM is saying that no one was injured in today's attacks but that they are "yet another demonstration of the great risk to international shipping caused by these Houthi actions." UKMTO continues to advise caution while transiting the area and reporting of suspicious activity while the investigations are ongoing into the recent attacks.
Maersk and Hapag Pause Red Sea Runs as Industry Calls for Immediate Action
Maersk and Hapag both paused Red Sea transits while reviewing the security situation (file photo)
Shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd both confirmed today that they have paused all planned transits of the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait while the shipping industry is calling for immediate actions and a stop to “flagrant breach of international law” which is risking the lives of seafarers and global trade. The actions came after the recent escalation which saw a missile land close to a Maersk containership yesterday, a confirmed strike on a Hapag vessel today, and two MSC containerships targeted by the Houthi with one possibly struck.
“We have instructed all Maersk vessels in the area bound to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pause their journeys until further notice,” Maersk said in a written statement issued today Friday, December 15. The shipping giant operating the world’s second-largest containership fleet said it is “deeply concerned about the highly escalated security situation,” while calling the recent attacks “alarming” and saying they pose a significant threat to the safety and security of seafarers.
Maersk had previously rerouted two of its vessels owned by XT Shipping, which is based in Haifa, Israel. Earlier today, the company also reported that it “expected to phase out” one of the vessels, the Liberian-registered Maersk Pangani (63,696 dwt) from its current route. While only saying “unforeseen circumstances,” the company said the vessel would be omitting a call in the Persian Gulf at Jebel Ali in Dubai and return to India. The alert said they expected to replace her on the route with another Maersk ship in February 2024.
Hapag-Lloyd after confirming that one of its containerships had been attacked today while sailing close to the coast of Yemen, said it “will take additional measures to secure the safety of our crews. Hapag-Lloyd is pausing all container ship traffic through the Red Sea until Monday (December 18). Then we will decide for the period thereafter.”
The two shipping companies' statements came a day after Bloomberg reported that it had seen an internal memo at Maersk Tankers altering customers that the company was holding the option of rerouting vessels in its pool to sail around Africa and avoid the Red Sea. The International Chamber of Shipping also said today that “some companies have already rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope,” adding cost and delays to global trade with it understood the industry was considering additional actions that could lead to further ships diverting.
The Bab al-Mandab is a potential choke point as it is just 20 miles wide with defined north and south lanes for safe transit. Approximately 10 to 12 percent of global trade passes through the area or more than 17,000 ships each year.
Speaking before the recent developments, well-known analyst Peter Sand of Xeneta predicted it was “highly unlikely the Suez Canal will close…I still believe most ships will continue to transit the Suez Canal despite this risk, just as they did when piracy was such a high risk.”
U.S. officials said they are continuing to work on efforts at building on the existing Task Force in the region to provide greater security. They point out that 39 nations participate in the efforts focused on the Indian Ocean and east into the Persian Gulf region.
The World Shipping Council issued a statement calling for action. The European Community Shipowners’ Association and European Transport Workers’ Federation also issued a joint statement calling for “immediate action to urgently address this alarming situation.”
"ECSA strongly advocates for the enhancement of protective structures for the security of commercial vessels transiting through the area. These measures are crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of our seafarers and to enhance the security of vital trade routes” said Sotiris Raptis, ECSA Secretary General.
The ICS also issued a statement saying the trade association “deplores the actions of the Houthis in the strongest terms and calls for the immediate cessation of these attacks... States with influence in the region should, as a matter of urgency, work to stop the actions of the Houthis in attacking seafarers and merchant ships, and de-escalate what is now an extremely serious threat to international trade.”
Discussing the potential impact of trade and the shipping industry, Sand said he “would expect some kind of over-reaction in the short-term, where rates will jump on all trades which utilize the Suez Canal.” He points out that the only alternative available for the carriers to avoid the Red Sea and the strait is to instead go around the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa, which adds up to 10 days sailing time.
Houthi Forces Attempt to Board Tanker off Yemen
French frigate Languedoc joined the U.S. destroyers in protection efforts in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Incidents in the Red Sea are increasing after the Houthi rebels issued a statement saying that they would expand their efforts to include any vessel they believed was bound for Israel or involved in trade with Israel. U.S., UK, and French naval forces are all reporting encounters with at least one tanker attacked today, December 13, and in a further escalation the attackers took to a small boat while individuals identifying as “Yemeni authorities” continued to demand that vessels divert.
U.S. Central Command confirmed an attempted Houthi attack on the Marshall Island-registered chemical tanker Ardmore Encounter (49,500 dwt) while sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The shipping company confirmed to the Associated Press that the vessel had been approached and fired upon but said the crew was safe and the vessel was proceeding with an escort from a U.S. warship.
The incident began at 0830 when the tanker, which is transporting a cargo of jet fuel from India to Europe, first reported being approached by a small boat. United Kingdom Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports there were three armed persons onboard and that the incident was approximately 50 nautical miles west of Hodeidah, Yemen. When the small boat was within half a nautical mile of the tanker armed security guards aboard the vessel fired warning shots and the attackers reportedly shot at the tanker.
After the small boat moved away from the tanker, the vessel received a radio call from the “Yemeni authorities” ordering it to sail toward Yemen. Associated Press is citing unnamed U.S. officials who said coalition forces advised the vessel to continue on course while two missiles were also fired at the tanker. Some reports said one missile was shot down while the other fell into the sea. The captain of the Ardmore Encounter reported that they saw an explosion 200 meters astern.
The destroyer USS Mason was dispatched to assist the tanker and as it was proceeding to the area reportedly tracked a drone traveling in the same direction. The U.S. vessel shot down the drone and escorted the tanker out of the danger zone.
"The UAV was heading directly towards the Mason and was shot down in self-defense. There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to any vessels," U.S. Central Command said in a statement late Wednesday.
UKMTO, which coordinates with the Royal Navy and issues warnings to commercial shipping, released a second alert after it received reports of small boats operating in the Arabian Sea off the Omani city of Al Duqm. They warned that five to six small boats with powerful outboard motors that could likely attain 25 knots were following the unidentified merchant ship for at least 90 minutes. The boats were reported to have a machine gun mounted near the bow but the boats cleared the area without approaching the vessel that reported the incident to UKMTO.
France’s Marine Nationale also reported yesterday that its frigate FREMM Languedoc, which has been in the area around the Red Sea since December 8, has again also taken down a drone. The vessel on December 9 shot down two drones and then on December 11 assisted the Norwegian tanker Strinda, which was attacked. The Languedoc shot down another drone which they believed was attempting to attack the tanker after the vessel had already been hit by the missile. The Languedoc also positioned itself to protect the tanker preventing according to the statement an attempt to hijack the vessel.
The increase in activity in the Red Sea area comes as the White House reports President Joe Biden is actively working with U.S. allies to create a multi-national naval task force. Unconfirmed reports indicated that the U.S. is proposing that the warships would escort merchant vessels through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the danger zone near Yemen.
Video: Fishing Vessel Navigates to Safety After Losing its Bow
Sheng Feng 12 making way without a bow off the coast of Luzon, Dec. 13 (PCG)
On Tuesday, the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel lost their bow in a collision with a bulker off the Philippines - and then navigated the remaining two-thirds of their boat to safety.
At about 2100 hours local time on Tuesday night, the Taiwanese fishing vessel Sheng Feng 12 was operating some 80 nm off the coast of Candon, Ilocos Sur, on the northwest end of Luzon. The Sheng Feng collided with an unidentified vessel, suspected to be a Bangladeshi-flagged bulker en route to Indonesia.
The Philippine Coast Guard dispatched the patrol vessel BRP Malapascua to assist the damaged fishing vessel. On arrival, they found that it had sustained damage at the bow and needed portable salvage pumps to dewater.
Courtesy PCG
Sheng Feng 12 intact in 2021 (WPCFC)
A video released by the PCG (above) showed the 60-foot tuna longliner was missing the entirety of its bow and focsle, from the stem aft to the main deck level, and still making way on an even keel. Survival and navigation after sustaining damage of this severity is possible for a heavily compartmentalized warship, but rare for a merchant vessel.
The PCG recommended that the Sheng Feng head for the nearest Philippine port for repairs. By 1000 hours Wednesday, it was about 10 nm off Ilocos Sur, suggesting it had transited a long distance overnight after sustaining damage.
Endangered species list grows by 2,000. Climate change is part of the problem
MICHAEL PHILLIS Mon, December 11, 2023
A spotted newt crawls in the rain on Aug. 1, 2003, in Unity, N.H. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, the leading tracker of global biodiversity, released their new Red List of Threatened Species on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at the United Nations climate conference in Dubai. Amphibians are particularly at risk, with 41% under threat of extinction.
(AP Photo/Jim Cole/File)
Climate change is worsening the planet's biodiversity crises, making environments more deadly for thousands of species and accelerating the precipitous decline in the number of plants and animals on Earth, according to an international organization that tracks species health.
Species of salmon and turtles are among those facing a decline as the planet warms.
Atlantic salmon isn’t yet threatened with extinction, but its population dropped by nearly a quarter from 2006 to 2020, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which tracks biodiversity around the globe, said on Monday. It’s now considered near threatened. They live in fewer places and face human-created hazards like dams and water pollution. Climate change is making it harder for the fish to find food and easier for alien species to compete, according to the group. Although there are some signs of hope: their numbers ticked up in Maine this past year.
The news was announced at the United Nations climate conference in the United Arab Emirates on Monday. Leaders of the IUCN updated their Red List of Threatened Species, a tracker of biodiversity around the globe. It was mainly bad news. The list includes information on 157,000 species, about 7,000 more than last year's update.
The IUCN said just over 44,000 species are threatened with extinction. That's roughly 2,000 more than last year.
“Species around the world are under huge pressure. So no matter where you look, the numbers of threatened species are rising,” said Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the Red List unit at the IUCN.
Climate change is worsening conditions for about 6,700 species threatened with extinction.
The Central South Pacific and East Pacific green turtle is at greater risk because of climate change, for example. Fewer turtles hatch as higher seas inundate nests. Warming waters can harm its food supply of seagrasses.
The update includes the first broad assessment of the health of freshwater fish species. One-quarter of species — just over 3,000 — face an extinction risk. As climate change raises sea levels, salt water is traveling further up rivers, for example. And these species already face tremendous threats from pollution and overfishing, the IUCN said.
Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians are suffering the most. About 41% of these species are under threat.
“They are climate captives because of higher temperatures, drought — whatever happens amphibians cannot move out of harm's way and are directly impacted by climate change,” said Vivek Menon, deputy chair of the IUCN's species survival commission.
There was a bit of good news. Two antelope species are fairing better, although they still have a long way to go before their long-term survival is stabilized. For example, the scimitar-horned oryx, a light-colored animal with curved horns, had previously been categorized as extinct in the wild but is now endangered. It faced a lot of threats: poaching, drought and car accidents all played a role in largely eliminating the species by the turn of the century. But recent efforts to reintroduce the species in Chad have helped and there are now at least 140 adults and more than twice as many calves on a large nature reserve.
IUCN's director general Grethel Aguilar said it's clear humans need to act to protect biodiversity and when conservation is done right, it works. To combat the threat posed by climate change, she said fossil fuels need to be phased out, a contentious focus of this year's COP28 negotiations.
“Nature is here to help us, so let us help it back," she said.
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Study identifies Florida’s potential invasive species threats
In a first-of-its-kind study for North America, scientists accumulated a list of potential invasive species for Florida, and researchers deemed 40 pose the greatest threat.
A team of experts, led by University of Florida scientists, evaluated terrestrial, aquatic and marine species with characteristics that make them particularly adept at invasion. Their list includes 460 vertebrates, invertebrates, algae and plants.
“Invasive species management tends to be reactive, instead of preventative,” said Deah Lieurance, who led the project as the then-coordinator of the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants and is now an assistant professor of invasive species biology and management at Penn State University. “This was the reason behind this project: to protect Florida’s natural areas, while also saving the money and effort that would go into management strategies.”
Florida is “ground zero” for invasions in the United States, says Matthew Thomas, the director of the UF/IFAS Invasion Science Research Initiative, which was created in 2022 to address the state’s unique challenges.
Lieurance and the working group of experts from academia, state and federal agencies, and non-profits conducted what is known as a horizon scan, or the systematic examination of information by experts to identify emerging issues, opportunities and unknown risks to inform policy and decision-making.
Each species evaluated was given a score based on the likelihood of arrival, likelihood of establishment and spread, and their potential ecological, economical and human health impacts. The group of experts then met to form a consensus on ranking the species by risk level. Based on these scoring parameters, some of the most likely invaders were determined to be alewife, zebra mussel, crab-eating macaque and red swamp crayfish.
Validating the priority rankings of the highest risk species was the small population of red swamp crayfish that was detected and eradicated in Clay County in 2022, Lieurance said.
“The one that wasn’t even on my radar was the macaque,” Lieurance said. “But they’re already in the state in captivity, and as their name says, they’re good at eating crabs. This means they would have an impact on our native biodiversity. Plus, their relative, the rhesus macaque, is already established in the state, and these crab-eating macaques also are likely to host the same [herpes B] virus found in the Silver Springs State Park populations.”
The experts also considered potential pathways that could bring these invaders to Florida, finding that arrivals by escape from confinement (pet and aquarium releases) and transportation (stowaways and contaminants) were most likely.
“Something that came up in the time since we convened this group was the yellow-legged hornet, a species that wasn’t evaluated in this study,” Lieurance said. The predatory species was found just across the border, in Savannah, Georgia, this past August. “It’s likely that’s one species that would appear as high risk for invasion to Florida, if the horizon scan was done today.”
Lieurance says this research serves as a starting point for future horizon scans, which she suggests should be done every five years or so.
“Now that we have a list, the process next time would involve reviewing what’s there and seeing what new things are coming in, or have the potential to appear,” she said.
But the methods employed for this study are already leading to new approaches nationwide.
“A team from the United States Geological Survey took part in this project, evaluating one of the taxonomic groups,” Lieurance explained. “They took their experience back to their superiors and now at a federal level, the Department of Interior is using bipartisan infrastructure money to fund other horizon scans using this same framework as a part of their National Framework for Early Detection and Rapid Response. This is just one example of how we can already see this project expanding.”
Currently, Lieurance is leading ongoing horizon scan projects for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well.
“As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Lieurance said. “The majority of prevention efforts are initiated when the species has already been detected and often when it's too late. This project strives to keep concerning species out and truly protect Florida's biodiversity, unique ecosystems, socioeconomic infrastructure, and human well-being.”
The study, “Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity,” was funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the UF/IFAS Dean for Research. It is published in the journal Ecosphere: doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4711.
Identifying invasive species threats, pathways, and impacts to improve biosecurity
ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE
14-Dec-2023
Colombia confirmed as host of next UN biodiversity talks
AFP Fri, December 15, 2023 Colombia's Environment Minister Susana Muhamad smiles during a press conference to announce that some of the 166 hippopotamuses belonging to slain cocaine baron Pablo Escobar will be euthanized (Juan BARRETO)
Colombia was officialy confirmed Friday as the host of the the UN's next biodiversity summit to be held in late 2024 after Turkey backed out.
The COP16 biodiversity summit would follow up on a landmark deal at the last talks in 2022 in Montreal which promised to preserve 30 percent of the planet's land and seas by 2030.
It comes as climate change threatens an increasing number of species, with 25 percent of the world's freshwater fish species at risk of extinction, according to the latest red list assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Meanwhile invasive plant and animal species introduced intentionally and unintentionally by humans in new ecosystems are exacerbating the extinction crisis and causing global economic losses of hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
Susana Muhamad, Colombia's minister of environment and sustainable development, said: "This is going to be a great opportunity for one of the most biodiverse nations in the world," adding it "sends a message from Latin America to the world about the importance of climate action and the protection of life."
The Montreal summit also raised pledges to commit $30 billion a year for developing countries to halt human-caused extinction of threatened species.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which formally approved Colombia's bid, had been urgently seeking a host for the talks that are scheduled from 21 October to 1 November 2024.
David Cooper, the Convention's acting executive secretary, said: "The Secretariat is delighted to have the Government of Colombia as host of COP 16.
"Colombia is home to tremendous biodiversity, is an inspiring example of how to engage with indigenous peoples and local communities and is at the forefront of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity."
Unlike the climate COP, the biodiversity COP -- which stands for Conference of Parties -- takes place every two years.
Turkey, which pulled out of hosting duties citing the need to recover from earthquakes, has offered to hold climate talks in 2026.
