OCE-B.10.A - IAS Introduction Risk Identification
Does the company identify activities in its operations and value chain that could lead to the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS)?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
IAS include animals, plants and other organisms that humans accidentally or deliberately
introduce to areas outside their natural geographic range. IAS can have detrimental impacts on local
biodiversity. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES) Global Assessment Report (2019) has identified IAS as one of the five most significant direct
drivers of biodiversity loss. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD's) Post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework requires reducing the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive
species by at least 50%.
Invasive species can enter marine ecosystems through various pathways, such as ballast water,
biofouling, discharged wastewater, escaped fish, imported bait and navigational canals. Lacking
natural predators in their new environments, invasive species often spread and become abundant.
Their ecological consequences can permeate food chains as they carry diseases, outcompete or prey
on native species and alter food webs. These impacts influence ecosystem functioning and can also
have socioeconomic and health implications. Managing invasive species is, therefore, vital for
preserving biodiversity and human welfare (SDG 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Mention the activities that can lead to the introduction of IAS. For example: escape fish from aquaculture, introduction of micro and/or macroscopic organism from ballast water, mariculture of non-native species, plants for mudflats or dune management.
OR
Measure the proportion of high-risk activities operated under appropriate measures to prevent unintentional introduction of IAS, or low-risk designed activities.
OR
If it does not have activities that can lead to the introduction IAS, can be assessed against this indicator by explaining what they are doing to address this topic in their supply chain
OR
Have certification for wildlife management, including invasive species (or similar), so this element would be covered.
Certifications for farming activities:
Our standards - ASC International : covering escape and/or species management requirement in their farm standard. They have different standards for different commodities.
BAP - BAP Farm Standard - Issue 3.1 - 07-February-2023.pdf:covering escape and wildlife management in their farm standards.
Certifications for wild-capture activities:
MSC Fisheries Standard v3.1: covering requirements for wildlife management and escapement.
Guidance
This process focuses on proactively identifying and assessing the various activities within a company's operations and value chain that could potentially introduce invasive alien species into the environment. It involves gathering data, consulting with experts or conducting assessments The goal is to understand which actions or processes within the company and value chain have the potential to introduce IAS.
Companies that do not have activities that can lead to the introduction IAS, can be assessed against this indicator by explaining what they are doing to address this topic in their supply chain. Other sectors may have accreditation for wildlife management, including invasive species, so this element would be covered.
Note: some terrestrial and freshwater species can become invasive in coastal or marine environments. (e.g. zebra mussel spread in brackish/ estuarine waters)
Sectors using maritime transport should report on this topic directly or indirectly, for example, through certificates, accreditation (Managing and cargo certification, Marpol convention)
In case of sectors with vessels/ports, assess ballast water cleaning procedures
introduce to areas outside their natural geographic range. IAS can have detrimental impacts on local
biodiversity. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES) Global Assessment Report (2019) has identified IAS as one of the five most significant direct
drivers of biodiversity loss. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD's) Post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework requires reducing the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive
species by at least 50%.
Invasive species can enter marine ecosystems through various pathways, such as ballast water,
biofouling, discharged wastewater, escaped fish, imported bait and navigational canals. Lacking
natural predators in their new environments, invasive species often spread and become abundant.
Their ecological consequences can permeate food chains as they carry diseases, outcompete or prey
on native species and alter food webs. These impacts influence ecosystem functioning and can also
have socioeconomic and health implications. Managing invasive species is, therefore, vital for
preserving biodiversity and human welfare (SDG 14.2).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Mention the activities that can lead to the introduction of IAS. For example: escape fish from aquaculture, introduction of micro and/or macroscopic organism from ballast water, mariculture of non-native species, plants for mudflats or dune management.
OR
Measure the proportion of high-risk activities operated under appropriate measures to prevent unintentional introduction of IAS, or low-risk designed activities.
OR
If it does not have activities that can lead to the introduction IAS, can be assessed against this indicator by explaining what they are doing to address this topic in their supply chain
OR
Have certification for wildlife management, including invasive species (or similar), so this element would be covered.
Certifications for farming activities:
Our standards - ASC International : covering escape and/or species management requirement in their farm standard. They have different standards for different commodities.
BAP - BAP Farm Standard - Issue 3.1 - 07-February-2023.pdf:covering escape and wildlife management in their farm standards.
Certifications for wild-capture activities:
MSC Fisheries Standard v3.1: covering requirements for wildlife management and escapement.
Guidance
This process focuses on proactively identifying and assessing the various activities within a company's operations and value chain that could potentially introduce invasive alien species into the environment. It involves gathering data, consulting with experts or conducting assessments The goal is to understand which actions or processes within the company and value chain have the potential to introduce IAS.
Companies that do not have activities that can lead to the introduction IAS, can be assessed against this indicator by explaining what they are doing to address this topic in their supply chain. Other sectors may have accreditation for wildlife management, including invasive species, so this element would be covered.
Note: some terrestrial and freshwater species can become invasive in coastal or marine environments. (e.g. zebra mussel spread in brackish/ estuarine waters)
Sectors using maritime transport should report on this topic directly or indirectly, for example, through certificates, accreditation (Managing and cargo certification, Marpol convention)
In case of sectors with vessels/ports, assess ballast water cleaning procedures
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Not Applicable
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report