Risk Assessment

Rapid risk assessments undertaken in 2013

Species listed as invasive in Ireland come from the Invasive Species in Ireland prioritization risk assessment last undertaken in 2013.  From this, 48 non-native species were ranked as at risk of having a High Impact and 78 species at risk of having a Medium Impact. Press the buttons to download the species lists.

                                          

Prioritisation risk assessment is key to understanding the relative risk associated with a larger array of species. This assessment is required primarily for prioritisation and informing decisions that do not have an impact on trade. The prioritisation risk assessment was carried out for 377 non-native species recorded in Ireland and 342 non-native species not known to present in Ireland (potential invaders). These species were assessed, scored and ranked into impact categories of high, medium and low.

Of the 342 potential invaders that were risk assessed, 51 species ranked as possibly having a risk of High Impact. It is important that these species are not introduced into the wild in Ireland and if they do, that they are spotted and removed as soon as possible. These are known as our Watch List species. Since 2013, some of the species on the Watch list have now arrived and established in Ireland such as Coypu and Japanese kelp. Press the button to download the Watch Species list.

 

Detailed risk assessments undertaken in 2014

In 2014, 41 non-native species underwent a detailed risk assessment. This is a more comprehensive risk assessment process than the prioritization risk assessment.  It is a detailed assessment of the risks and uncertainties surrounding a particular species, group of species or pathway of concern.

The purpose of this risk assessment is to gather additional information on a particular species of concern when there is an identified need to do so. This will be used where required such as for the purpose of supporting any trade restrictions. It is important to note that undertaking a detailed risk assessment will not necessarily result in trade restrictions.The process involves expert review of a drafted detailed risk assessment which then undergoes public consultation. 

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) co-partnered with the National Biodiversity Data Centre (Data Centre) were tasked by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to undertake the detailed risk assessments on certain non-native species listed in the Third Schedule to the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.  The non-native species chosen for risk assessment were those subject to trade or potentially subject to trade restrictions.

To access the risk assessments for the 41 species see the project website http://nonnativespecies.ie.

The detailed risk assessment is called NAPRA Ireland

 

A report on the two risk assessment tools outlined above can be downloaded from: http://invasivespeciesireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Risk-analysis-and-prioritization-29032012-FINAL.pdf