EU bans our top pond plant – to protect Spain
IT’S Britain’s best-loved pond plant, but it faces extermination by the European Union – because it is hated in Spain and Portugal.
The water hyacinth has been added to the EU’s Invasive Alien Species Regulations, meaning that it cannot be grown or sold anywhere within the EU.
Here, the water hyacinth is a favourite of pond owners because it protects fish from predators such as herons and kingfishers, oxygenates water, and prevents algae from clogging ponds. And since it doesn’t seed, it cannot escape into waterways and it dies off completely following the first winter frost.
However, in warm climates such as Spain, Portugal and South Africa, it grow very quickly, creating thick floating mats on lakes and affecting water sports, boating and irrigation.
Spain and Portugal have already halted sales because lakes are being swamped. They lobbied for the EUwide ban, which starts on Wednesday.
They claimed that Britons with holiday homes might smuggle it in their luggage or cars to plant in ponds.
The Ornamental Aquatic Trades Association (OATA), representing 800 UK garden centres, pet shops and growers, is seeking a meeting with Ministers in the hope they will reject the ban in the light of the Brexit vote.
Keith Davenport, OATA’s chief executive, said: ‘This ban is going to cost the trade £1million, and may only last a year, which makes it risible.’
A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs spokesman said it would police the ban, adding: ‘We remain subject to EU legislation until we leave the EU.’