Another way of enabling the marine environment to recover is to redirect fishing pressure so that invasive alien species are caught instead.

Warmer sea temperatures mean invasive alien species are now often able to colonise new areas of the ocean. This can have a devastating impact on native fish species, depleting the stocks of fish that were once traditionally harvested, affecting people’s livelihoods as well as the ecosystem.

Redirecting fishing pressure so that invasive alien species are caught is similar to removing such species in a terrestrial context. The aim is to reduce the new pressure from alien species enough to let native species recolonise parts of the ocean and become more resilient to future changes.

In a marine context the goal is rarely to remove the invasive alien species completely. Instead, the aim is to provide an opportunity for the ecosystem to recover and find a new equilibrium, where these species are naturally held in balance by others.

Fishing in Europe is primarily a commercial activity. For fishers to prioritise fishing for invasive alien species there must be market demand for them.