International workshop Indicator based methods to assess and map biological pollution in the coastal waters of Norway

The introduction of alien species in marine environments is a growing factor of disturbance that can be viewed as a pollution agent. Often the impact of alien species is interpreted as decline in ecological quality resulting from changes in biological, ch emical and physical properties of aquatic ecosystems. Biological pollution (or biopollution) is defined as the impacts of alien species sufficient to disturb ecological quality by effects on: an individual (internal biological pollution by parasites or pa thogens), a population (by genetic change, i.e. hybridization), a community (by structural shift), a habitat (by modification of physical-chemical conditions) or an ecosystem (by alteration of energy and organic material flow). Biological and ecological effects of biopollution may also cause adverse economic consequences. So far, there was no attempt at the European level to bring together knowledge and experience on modern methods to assess consequences of biological pollution and to summarise various a pproaches for detection and mapping of alien species. An international workshop focusing on biopollution will establish contact between leading foreign experts and Norwegian researchers, representatives of environmental authorities and stakeholders, and h elp consolidate the existing knowledge on methods of assessment and mapping biopollution in marine coastal waters. The workshop format will include: invited lectures, round table discussions with stakeholders and brain storming aimed at elaboration of the recommendations on selection of the most relevant methods and study sites to assess and map biological pollution in the marine coastal waters of Norway. A separate session will be arranged to outline the content of the manual and to make further plans fo r publication.