This indicator is a pressure indicator because invasive alien species pose a threat to indigenous species and habitats.

While the number of alien species in our seas was 263 in 2005, this number increased to 422 in 2011 and reached 540 in 2018, 105 of which are invasive.

Although the vast majority of invasive alien species in the Mediterranean are introduced through the Suez Canal, a significant number of invasive alien species in the Black Sea are transmitted through the ballast water of vessels.

By 2020, 780 alien species have been detected in terrestrial environments and inland waters. Of these, 146 are invasive alien species, representing 19% of all alien species ^[64].

TABLE 21- ALIEN SPECIES IN TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS AND INTERNAL WATERS

Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, 2021

* rate of invasive alien species 19%