Topic: 2025-Regulating Invasive Species
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Keegan Troccko
Committee: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
Topic: Regulating Invasive Species
State: Canada
School: Grand Haven High School
Author: Keegan Troccko
The deliberate or accidental introductions of invasive species can be devastating to the Canadian economy and environment. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) plays an active and important role in helping to keep harmful foreign species of animals, plants, and microorganisms from entering Canadian ecosystems. With the growing volume of trade, travel, and tourism, new invasive species are continually arriving at Canada’s border by air, land, and water. Legislation plays an important role in the regulation and management of invasive species and pathways of spread in Canada. On a federal level, legislation regulates ballast water management, fisheries management, and the movement of wildlife, pathogens, and pests – all of which can play a role in invasive species spread.
Invasive species are considered one of Canada’s greatest threats to the survival of wild animals and plant life. The Fisheries Act (1985) allows Canada’s government to establish a list of aquatic invasive species and create regulations with respect to the management and control of these species. This includes regulations regarding the prevention, possession, release, handling, treatment, and eradication of aquatic invasive species. The Invasive Species Act (2015) can be used to regulate the prevention and management of invasive species. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls on its parties to ‘prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats, or species’. Although these acts were put into place Canada still has a problem with invasive species that is still trying to be solved.
Some solutions that were given were the Fisheries Act in 1985 which allows Canada’s government to establish a list of aquatic invasive species and create regulations with respect to the management and control of these species. The Canadian government liked the Fisheries Act but they wanted to modernize it so they made changes such as restoring protections for fish and fish habitat, enhancing marine protection and habitat restoration, improving management of projects, preserving independent inshore fisheries, strengthening Indigenous role in project reviews, monitoring, and policy development Plants, animals and microorganisms that have moved beyond their native range to a non-native ecosystem are known as alien species. When the introduction and spread of alien species threaten the new environment, economy,y or society (including human health), they are considered invasive. Invasive alien species can cause environmental and economic damage to our waterways, food supply, and natural resources.
The Invasive Species Act sets out regulations to prevent and control the spread of invasive species. Species regulated under the act pose a risk to Ontario’s natural environment. We assess a species’ risk by looking at its biological characteristics, risk of harm to the natural environment, ability to disperse, and social and economic impacts. The Government of Canada is investing $36.6 million over five years to fight aquatic invasive species in Canada. This includes $8.75 million in contribution funding for Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s newly created AISPF over fiscal years 2022-23 to 2026-27. When you are inserting a regulated invasive species into an ecosystem that has invasive species the regulated invasive species will help stop the invasive species and Canada believes this to be a good idea so it can help the ecosystems. Because invasive species are destroying Canadian ecosystems and one way that we can help is by regulating invasive species.
Works Cited
“Invasive alien species in Canada.” canada.ca, 19 12 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/invasive-alien-species.html. Accessed 13 02 2025.
“Legislation and Policy – Invasive Species Centre.” Invasive Species Centre, https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/learn/legislation-and-policies/#ontario. Accessed 13 February 2025.
“Managing invasive species in Ontario.” Ontario, 19 6 2019, https://www.ontario.ca/page/managing-invasive-species-ontario. Accessed 13 2 2025.
“Protecting Canada from invasive species.” canada.ca, 13 10 2021, https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/fpa-apa/species-especes-eng.html#a6x3. Accessed 13 02 2025.
