Visit Belfast is the official destination marketing company for the Belfast City Region, dedicated to promoting Belfast as a city break, business events and cruise ship destination. It is a public/private sector partnership funded and supported by Belfast City Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and the private sector. It is also responsible for the operation of three gateway visitor information centres. Visit Belfast represents more than 500 tourism businesses and services across the industry including accommodation providers, attractions, conference venues and services, tour operators, transport providers, entertainment venues, restaurants and cafes, pubs, clubs and event organisers. For more information, please visit https://visitbelfast.com/

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is a federal institution responsible for the stewardship of Canada’s fisheries and marine resources. Fisheries and Oceans Canada helps to ensure healthy aquatic ecosystems through habitat protection and sound science, while supporting economic growth and innovation.   

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is an international organization established by the United States and Canada through the 1954 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries. The commission was established partially as a response to one of the most noxious invaders to enter the Great Lakes system:  the sea lamprey.  Sea lampreys, primitive fish parasites native to the Atlantic Ocean, invaded the Great Lakes through shipping canals in the early 1900s.  Lacking predators, sea lamprey were able to wreak catastrophic damage on the ecosystem and cause significant economic harm to the fishers of the region. The commission’s control program has been successful, reducing sea lamprey populations by 90% in most areas of the Great Lakes. 

The convention also directs the commission to formulate a coordinated bi-national research program.  The program goals are to identify ways to nurture the maximum sustained productivity of Great Lakes fish stocks and, based on that research, to recommend specific management initiatives to the governments. The commission’s research program is based upon two broad priorities: research in support of healthy Great Lakes ecosystems and research in support of sea lamprey control. Additionally, the commission directs and supports projects designed to transfer science to managers.

Finally, the commission is charged with facilitating the implementation of A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries, a provincial, state, and tribal fisheries management agreement. While there exists no binding, centralized authority to compel cooperative fishery management on the Great Lakes, the jurisdictions realize that the Great Lakes fishery is interconnected and the actions of one jurisdiction affect the others. To manage the resource in this unique setting, the sub-national governments developed and adhere to The Joint Strategic Plan, an agreement that calls for cooperation among the jurisdictions, development of shared fish community objectives, data sharing, and adherence to ecosystem management.

After hosting ICAIS 2013 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Invasive Species Centre (ISC) became the ICAIS Secretariat, to provide continuity, leadership, and administrative oversight of the conference going forward. In that capacity, the ISC collaborates with the host organization of each conference, supports the International Scientific Committee, and is the home for the conference between events.

The ISC vision is a Canada where land and water are free from invasive species. The Invasive Species Centre is a not-for-profit organization that mobilizes action against invasive species that harm the environment, economy, and society in Canada and beyond. Visit our website at www.invasivespeciescentre.ca to learn about invasive species, get technical information, take training courses, register for events, sign up to receive news, and take action on invasive species. Incorporated as a non-for-profit in 2011, the Invasive Species Centre is a hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The Centre is a respected partner and leader in invasive species science, education, and action.

Ontario is made up of more than one million square kilometres of land and water and is one of the most biodiverse provinces in Canada. It is home to more than 30,000 known species, more than 250,000 lakes, 500,000 kilometres of streams, and diverse ecosystems.

Invasive species are a leading cause of biodiversity loss in Ontario, with an estimated economic impact of $3.6 billion each year across key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, healthcare, tourism and outdoor recreation.

The Ontario government plays an important role in preventing and managing invasive species in the province by enacting and enforcing policy and legislation, raising awareness about the threat and impacts, and supporting local action.

The Ministry of Natural Resources leads Ontario’s efforts to prevent invasive species from arriving and surviving in Ontario, to slow, and where possible reverse their spread, and to reduce the harmful impacts of existing invasive species. The Ministry oversees the Invasive Species Act, which currently lists 42 species, four groups, one family and two carriers as invasive. The Act provides legislative tools to prohibit and restrict certain invasive species and their pathways. The Ministry also invests in programs such as the Invasive Species Action Fund, which is administered by the Invasive Species Centre and supports community projects across the province to help protect natural spaces form harmful invasive species.

To learn more about Ontario’s work to manage and prevent invasive species visit: www.Ontario.ca/invasivespecies.

The Marine Institute provides scientific and technical advice to the government to inform policy and support the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resources.

The Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) is the Flemish research and knowledge centre for nature and its sustainable management and use. INBO conducts research and supplies knowledge to all those who prepare or make the policies or are interested in them. 

As a leading scientific institute, INBO works for the Flemish government primarily, but also supplies information for international reporting and deals with questions from local authorities. In addition, INBO supports organisations for nature management, forestry, agriculture, hunting and fisheries. INBO is a member of national and European research networks. It makes its findings available to the general public. 

INBO employs some 300 staff, mainly researchers and technicians. 

With regard to aquatic invasive species (AIS) INBO plays a lead role in research, monitoring and management of these invasives in the northern part of Belgium. Current AIS research topics include: monitoring of spread and impact of Ponto-Caspian gobies, management of American bullfrog, drafting and reviewing risk assessments for invasive alien species, horizon scanning of new AIS, monitoring and surveillance of AIS, the publication of open data on invasives as well as the development of registries and data warehouses. The institute is a key player in implementing the recently approved European Union Regulation on the prevention and management of invasive alien species list. 

INBO scientists liaise with European and other international experts on AIS to tackle the issue on a pan-European or worldwide scale. Results of these collaboration can be found in reports to managers and stakeholders and in numerous peer reviewed papers. The institute was involved in several outreach activities such as the Interreg project Invexo (http://www.invexo.be/), RINSE (http://www.rinse-europe.eu/, Reducing the Impacts of Non-native Species in Europe) and SEFINS (Safeguarding the Environment from Invasive non-native Species) which seek to improve awareness on the invasive species issue, and to develop methods to address them. 

Established in 1947 by consent of Congress, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) is an interstate compact agency that helps resource agencies and the fishing industry sustainably manage our valuable Pacific Ocean resources in a six-state region. Member states include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Each represented by three Commissioners.

The Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water (Climate +) is an international research centre tackling some of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate change, biodiversity loss and water quality decline. Working across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, we bring together more than 130 researchers from 14 leading research organisations to develop solutions for preventing and adapting to climate change, protecting and restoring ecosystems, supporting sustainable economies, and improving quality of life.

Hosted by Trinity College Dublin, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Reading, we combine expertise from the physical, biological, computational and social sciences. Our research programme is organised around four interconnected themes: Projections, Monitoring, Enabling Fair Transformations, and Evidence Discovery and Integration. Through these themes, we generate world-leading research, advanced environmental intelligence and evidence-based solutions for policy, industry and society.

A defining feature of our work is our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact. By working closely with governments, businesses, communities and international scientific bodies, we ensure that research findings are translated into action. For web: Find out more on our website and social media, and keep up to date with our work by signing up to our newsletter.

The Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water is funded by Research Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). We also receive philanthropic funding from the Sunflower Charitable Foundation and

the Fernhill Fund at Community Foundation Ireland, and additional project funding from our industry partners.

The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), responsible for protecting and enhancing the environment in England. It regulates the transfer of raw water, disposal of waste and the movement of fish; all of which have a high potential to spread invasive species and therefore need to be regulated accordingly.

The government ambition for the environment is described within the Environment Improvement Plan, which identifies the need to enhance biosecurity as one of its ten primary goals. This includes the interim Environment Act target to reduce the rate of establishment of invasive non-native species by at least 50% by December 2030, compared to 2000 levels. The Environment Agency is the lead agency for the eradication of priority invasive species that impact the freshwater environment.

In 2005, the Agency established a specialist team dedicated to eradicating non-native fish species. Using Rotenone and innovative delivery methods, the team has treated a wide range of sites, from small one-acre ponds to large multi-lake angling complexes, fish farms, and open stream systems. The team has successfully removed the only known English populations of black bullhead catfish and fat-head minnow. Over the past 21 years, the EA has completed more than 30 chemical eradication operations targeting topmouth gudgeon. Despite the scale and complexity of this work, results to date show that complete eradication of topmouth gudgeon from England remains achievable.

The Environment Agency also coordinates the eradication of invasive aquatic plants. It has eradicated the only known wild population of Various leaved water milfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum and is currently in the process of coordinating the eradication of the 60 recorded sites of water primrose Ludwigia grandiflora.

The EA’s National Laboratory Service is also developing eDNA capabilities to support new detection tools, rapid response capabilities, and robust long-term management of aquatic invasive species.

Since 2006, GiMaRIS has specialized in marine research, inventory, and strategy solutions. The company is thereby NEN-EN-ISO 9001:2015 certified for conducting research, providing consultancy and designing management plans for private companies and (semi-)governments.  

Most work is issued by (semi-)governments, fisheries, port authorities, dredging companies and shipping companies. This includes monitoring and species assessments, but also risk assessments, and the development of management and control protocols aimed at minimizing the ecological impact of maritime activities.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers unites the chief executives of eight US states and two Canadian provinces to work as equal partners to grow the region’s $6 trillion economy and protect the world’s largest system of surface fresh water. The Governors’ and Premiers’ AIS Task Force works to stop the introduction and spread of AIS into the Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin and protect the region’s $7 billion fishery. The Task Force coordinates state and provincial efforts to combat AIS through strategic regional action. The Governors’ and Premiers’ priorities include: 

• Taking aggressive action against high-risk AIS 

• Promoting regional cooperation across borders 

• Fostering collaboration among AIS experts, fisheries experts, and law enforcement officials 

In recent years, the Governors’ and Premiers’ leadership has resulted in major progress. Key accomplishments include: 

• A “least wanted” list of 21 AIS that threaten the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Basin, which has led to more than 50 separate actions to restrict these high-risk species. 

• A groundbreaking Mutual Aid Agreement that facilitates cooperative response actions and the sharing of staff, expertise, and resources in the event of an AIS invasion.  

• A regional AIS law enforcement initiative. This includes state and provincial participation in a Memorandum of Understanding that promotes information sharing and cross-border investigations. 

• Development of innovative financing structures for AIS management and control in partnership with the Invasive Species Centre and Quantified Ventures. 

• Priority action against invasive carp including a collaboration with the Iceland Ocean Cluster. 

AIS cost the U.S. and Canada billions of dollars in damages each year, burden the economy, and strain public budgets. They pose a threat to human health and cause immeasurable ecological damage to native species, with consequences for the region’s fishery, tourism and recreation. More than 180 nonnative species have been introduced into the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The Governors and Premiers are united in their efforts to combat further AIS invasions. 

Strengthening Canada–United States Transboundary Water Cooperation through the International Joint Commission

For more than a century, under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, the International Joint Commission (IJC) has anchored water cooperation between Canada and the United States (US).

Mandated to help prevent and resolve disputes over shared waters, the IJC has two main responsibilities: approving projects that affect water levels or flows across the border, and recommending solutions to complex transboundary issues at the request of the two governments. The IJC’s success is rooted in its impartial, science based approach to decision-making, its strong commitment to public engagement, and in the fact that Commissioners from both countries strive to reach decisions by consensus. This model has supported stable, predictable cross-border relations.

The IJC works through more than 15 boards focused on individual watersheds along the border. These boards increasingly use an ecosystem approach, with responsibilities that include regulating water levels and flows, water apportionment, flood mitigation, water quality, and ecosystem protection, among others. Several boards advise the IJC in its role under the Canada–US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a framework globally recognized for its success protecting and restoring Great Lakes water quality.

Water issues require locally tailored solutions, yet communities worldwide face similar challenges like algal blooms and extreme water level variability. The IJC values opportunities to exchange knowledge with other joint bodies and river basin organizations, as we work to strengthen freshwater stewardship in our respective regions.

INVAS Biosecurity is a dynamic Irish company that specialises in the control of Invasive Species on land and in water. The increasing rate of introduction of non-native invasive weeds, insects, fish and animals to the island of Ireland has necessitated the expansion of our company, to both understand and tackle the serious problems posed by these species. 

The specialised weed control services offered by INVAS Biosecurity have evolved over 20 years and we offer this experience to a wide range of State and semi-State organisations, cross border bodies, Local Authorities, Angling Clubs, Amenity Managers, Consultants and the general public. To keep abreast of the pace of introduction and spread of new invasive species INVAS Biosecurity has found it necessary to expand and diversify its operations to include control and containment of invasive species. 

Where requested, our environmental scientists can offer support to clients in the development and implementation of long-term control and management programmes to tackle these harmful and damaging invasive species. 

The company has developed simple and effective prevention measures that focus primarily on cleaning and disinfection. INVAS Biosecurity offers a range of new and innovative cleaning/disinfection methods and products that will aid in the process. The company also offers on-site cleaning/disinfection services to key stakeholders or others. 

Where invasive species have become established INVAS Biosecurity staff will accurately determine the extent of the problem and offer effective containment, control and/or eradication advice and service. 

INVAS Biosecurity will also advise and support in respect of natural habitat restoration following successful control programs. This will provide a natural defence against reinfestation of the treated species. 

Founded in 1845 as Queen’s College Belfast, Queen’s University Belfast became an independent university in 1908. Today, they are ranked as one of the top 200 universities in the world and are a member of the Russell Group of UK research intensive universities, combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos (QS University Rankings 2026).

International Association for Open Knowledge on Invasive Alien Species (INVASIVESNET) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization open to individuals and organizations involved in research, management and exchange of knowledge on invasive species.

PICES, the North Pacific Marine Science Organization, is an intergovernmental scientific organization that was established and held its first meetings in 1992. Its present members are Canada, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America. 
 
The purposes of the Organization are as follows: 

• Promote and coordinate marine research in the northern North Pacific and adjacent seas especially northward of 30 degrees North 

• Advance scientific knowledge about the ocean environment, global weather and climate change, living resources and their ecosystems, and the impacts of human activities 

• Promote the collection and rapid exchange of scientific information on these issues