Bioinvasions across the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Galapagos IS: a biosecurity network initiative

Marine bioinvasions by alien species pose a critical, growing threat to peoples' livelihoods, ecosystem function, and sustainability of coastal zones worldwide. Bionvasions are thus of significant interest to governments and the public, as well as managers charged with the conservation and preservation of marine protected areas, marine parks, and marine reserves. Although inherently a cross-border issue, biosecurity and related pro-active approaches are often pursued in a local-to-regional manner, with strikingly little co-ordination among countries even within the same bioregion. Sharing knowledge and management strategies is mutually beneficial, but mechanisms for this are seldom available and limited in scope. In June 2019, the first International Workshop on Marine Biosecurity of the Tropical Eastern & Temperate Southeastern Pacific Ocean was held in the Galapagos Islands. Scientists, resource managers, and decision makers convened and created the first marine biosecurity network