Aliens invading Europe

Deadly fish and giant seaweed among species coming our way

A MONSTER seaweed and a killer catfish are among the alien species posing a threat to Britain’s wildlife, experts warn.

Scientists have drawn up a list of 66 foreign plant and animal invaders headed our way.

High on the list is the striped eel catfish, which is said to present a potential risk to biodiversity across the EU.

With poisonous spines on its fins that can be fatal in rare cases, the saltwater fish are commonly found in estuaries, tide pools and other coastal areas.

The codium parvulum seaweed can produce massive drifts up to 10km long by 3km wide and 20cm thick. One giant mass weighing 6,000 tons was recorded off the coast of Israel.

It is thought such alien species could reach the UK via shipping

or arriving with imported goods such as plants. When a similar exercise was carried out in 2013, seven of the species in the top ten were recorded in Great Britain within two years.

The quagga mussel, listed as the most likely invader, was spotted in the UK within 12 months. Asian hornets arrived by 2016.

The latest research involved researchers at London’s Natural

History Museum and also included the fox squirrel, which can measure up to 15 inches long.

The mammal – the biggest squirrel in North America – can bully and out- compete grey and red squirrels. Another feared interloper is the rusty crayfish which experts say could wipe out our domestic, endangered varieties.

Topping the list is the northern snakehead – an aggressive Chinese

freshwater fish with razorsharp teeth that could easily decimate existing fish populations.

One was caught in 2008 on the River Witham in Lincolnshire. It was thought to have been illegally imported for an aquarium before being released. Northern snakeheads are already infesting US rivers in Florida and Washington DC.

Professor Brodie, who worked with experts at the UK’s Centre

for Ecology & Hydrology, said: ‘We know the sorts of impacts invasive alien species can cause.

‘Most notably, the quagga mussel, which was given the maximum scores for risk of arrival, establishment and impact and accordingly ranked in top position was reported in October 2014.’

The research was published in the journal Global Change Biology.