Confronting the Marine Invasive Species Threat: Practical and Legal Challenges

Abstract

This book chapter provides an overview of marine invasions and the environmental concerns surrounding the introduction and spread of marine invasive species. The existing legal and policy framework for addressing marine invasions on both the international and domestic (U.S.) level will be discussed, followed by an examination of the applicability and effectiveness of this regime to several recent case studies including the lionfish invasion in south Florida and tsunami debris associated with March 2011 Japanese tsunami. 

Keywords: invasive species, ocean