Biological pollutants and biological pollution--an increasing cause for concern

There are increasing concerns regarding the delivery, movement and presence of non-indigenous or invasive species into marine and estuarine areas. Such introductions can be on a large scale such as the movement to higher latitudes of species as the result of global warming. Alternatively, such species can be introduced into a marine or estuarine area as the result of small-scale events, such as the liberation from waste-water discharges, aquaculture or ballast-water discharge. However, if such introductions lead to a successful colonisation then they can become a wide-scale problem. This paper considers the introduction of such non-indigenous and invasive species as biological pollution and biological pollutants and it discusses the definitions and concepts used in assessing and managing marine pollution in relation to these terms.