Non-native species are….

plants and animals that do not naturally occur in an environment but have been introduced to an environment either accidentally or deliberately. Not all non-native species are detrimental to the environment they are introduced into. Those that do have a negative effect on the environment are known as invasive non-native species.  Along the waterways, invasive species pose a real threat to the natural environment, communities using waterways and can a significant economic impact.

This Invasive Species section focuses on the common invasive species you may come across on the UK’s waterways.