Climate change and vessel traffic fuel invasion of marine protected areas.
Protected marine areas are at risk of invasion by non-native species due to climate change and vessel traffic. A study looked at 83 marine protected areas along Canada's Pacific coast and found that under future climate conditions, the likelihood of invasion significantly increased for eight non-native species. Vessel traffic created clusters of highly connected areas, increasing the spread of these species. This highlights the need for better management strategies, including biosecurity measures and specific plans to prevent, monitor, and mitigate the impact of non-native species in marine protected areas.