Rapid response to non-indigenous species. 3. A proposed framework

The ability to conduct an effective rapid response to the detection of a novel non-indigenous species is greatly enhanced by the development of appropriate protocols and action plans before the arrival of species for which rapid response may be required. Worldwide, much effort has been expended on the development of such plans. Rapid response in Canadian waters is in its infancy and in Atlantic Canada, at least, rapid response against invasive tunicates has been carried out on an ad hoc basis in the absence of formal rapid response plans. Even so, many of the essential elements of a rapid response plan were implemented in the management of recent colonization of estuaries of Prince Edward Island (PEI) by non-indigenous tunicates. This paper proposes a framework that can be used to develop rapid response plans against future colonization of Canadian waters by nonindigenous species. The framework builds on principles derived from the preceding two papers that reviewed case histories of marine rapid response internationally and of four non-indigenous tunicates that have recently become pests in PEI estuaries. The status of non-indigenous tunicate management in PEI will be discussed with reference to the proposed framework in order to highlight areas where rapid response planning in Canada may benefit from further development.