Trade Association OATA has launched a new plant ID guide to help aquatic businesses ensure they are selling the right types of Milfoil (Myriophyllum).
The new guide has been created with help from aquatic plant experts to launch during Invasive Species Week 2022 (May 16-22).
OATA has been alerted by regulators to a rising number of illegal imports of the two Myriophyllum species that are illegal to sell in the UK. Myriophyllum aquaticum and Myriophyllum heterophyllum are both banned from sale in the UK but incorrect naming or misidentification of these two species has led to the plants appearing for sale in shops.
OATA chief executive Dominic Whitmee said: “There are a number of Milfoil species that can be sold, and several are also native species, so we want to make sure aquatic businesses feel confident to check plants they receive from suppliers to ensure they only put legal species out for sale.
“Our industry is a big supporter of Invasive Species Week, so this was the perfect time for us to launch this new ID guide.”
The new ID guide is free to download from OATA’s website at: https://ornamentalfish.org/wp-content/uploads/Milfoil-Myriophyllum-species-identification-guide-May-2022.pdf
Invasive Species Week is organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat.
