Examples of current international, regional and national regulatory frameworks for preventing and managing marine bioinvasions

There is a growing understanding at public and policy levels that bioinvasions represent a significant threat to the environment, economic, social and cultural values (e.g., Lubchenco et al. 1991; Pimentel et al. 2000a, b; Carlton 2001; Pimentel 2002). In terrestrial environments this has resulted in the adoption of regulatory frameworks at national, regional and international scales for the maintenance of quarantine and biosecurity protection of human health and economy. The recent outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitus (BSE) and Avian Influenza have galvanised effortsthroughout the globe to put in place appropriate measures for the protection and maintenance of our societal values, specifically human health and economy.