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Non-native Species Secretariat Non-native Species Secretariat Logo

Non-native species information portal

Pathway Action Plans

Pathways are the routes and mechanisms of the introduction and spread of invasive non-native species (INNS). Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) aim to prevent or manage the risk posed by particular pathways using measures such as raising public awareness, minimizing the contamination of goods, commodities, vehicles and equipment by invasive non-native species, and ensuring appropriate border checks. The development of PAPs is important to ensuring high biosecurity standards, as well as increasing awareness of INNS, and have been part of our GB Non-native Species Strategy from its inception, now forming part of our implementation of retained EU legislation. 

Priority pathways

Following the comprehensive analysis of pathways of introduction and spread carried out in 2019, we have prioritised six pathways. These are:

  1. Hull fouling
  2. Horticulture escapes
  3. Contaminants of ornamental plants
  4. Ballast water
  5. Stowaways on fishing equipment
  6. Zoo or botanic garden escapes. 

The PAPs developed so far are presented here. We will be developing further PAPs and adding them sequentially, and we welcome comments from all as they are being developed. 

Current plans

Links to the plans and their associated documents are provided below. To comment on any of the plans, please email: [email protected]

Pet Pathway Action Plan

Horticulture Pathway Action Plan

Angling Pathway Action Plan

The UK Angling Pathway Action Plan is divided into separate documents for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.

Recreational Boating Pathway Action Plan

The UK Recreational Boating Pathway Action Plan is divided into separate documents for Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.

Zoos Pathway Action Plan

Pathway Action Plan documents:

Public consultation 

Defra, the Scottish Government, and Welsh Government recently ran a public consultation on draft Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) for invasive non-native species (INNS) in Great Britain. The consultation invited views on the draft plans above. 

66 responses to this consultation were received. As a result of this consultation, all the comments received on the detail of the Pathway Action Plans (PAPs) have been anonymised and summarised. 

View the results of the consultation.

These anonymised, summarised results will be shared with the PAP working groups for their expert consideration. Once the working groups have looked at the feedback of this consultation, any required modifications based on the responses from the consultation will be made to each of the PAPs.   

Once the PAPs have been updated, they will be signed off by the working groups and then the Great Britain Invasive Non-native Species (INNS) Programme Board before final publication, which is expected to be by the end of 2026.