A recent study by MARE (Centre for Marine and Environmental Research), published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, has updated the national inventory of non-indigenous marine species in Portuguese waters. The research, involving 31 investigators from 11 universities and various institutions, confirms a total of 231 invasive species across Portugal.
In the Autonomous Region of Madeira, 62 of these species have been confirmed. The study indicates that the primary origin of these species in the Madeira and Azores archipelagos is the North Atlantic, contrasting with mainland Portugal where the North Pacific is the predominant origin. Maritime transport, via ballast water and hull fouling, is identified as the main introduction pathway.
The work also proposes a surveillance list of 22 species detected through environmental DNA, an early detection method. However, the study highlights a gap in genetic representation, with most references originating from outside Portuguese waters.
