Whether due to climate change, by hitching a ride on or in a ship, or thanks to another human vector, more marine species are making their way to parts of the ocean they have never been before.

Sometimes those species establish and thrive at the expense of native species. Take slipper limpets (Crepidula fornicata), found across the coastlines of many European countries.

In the 1800s oyster aquaculture was thriving in places like Maine, USA. Over in Europe, oyster stocks were dwindling. So, an oyster trade to boost European stocks from oysters from Maine (and some other locations) was born. Accompanying some of the shipments of these precious oysters…our friend the slipper limpet.

Over time, the slipper limpet became prolific, reducing food and other resources used by native species. Arguably this marine invader from Maine is the quintessential marine invasive species. But it is not the only one.

Discover some of the inspirational people and organisations working to learn more about and mitigate the impact of invasive species in the ocean in this special edition of Eco Magazine.

The special edition is free to read and in digital format. So why not grab your favourite beverage and have a read of it now?

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