NEW government figures show how reports from members of the public are feeding into efforts to detect and prevent the spread of invasive non-native species.
The public is being asked to play an increasingly important role in Britain’s fight against invasive non-native species, as government agencies make greater use of sightings submitted by people out in the countryside.
Defra’s latest environmental progress report says processes have been strengthened to ensure that confirmed reports of invasive non-native species are systematically reviewed by the relevant authorities. The aim is to improve early detection and help determine whether action, management or further investigation is required.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, 128 relevant invasive-species reports were recorded in England. Around 60 of those reports were confirmed, covering 53 different species. Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) says the information contributed to work that prevented three species from becoming established.
Reporting sightings of invasive species
There are several ways to record an invasive species.
INNS Mapper is a free app and website covering England, Wales and Scotland. It allows members of the public to report sightings, while volunteer groups and other organisations can also use it to record surveys and management work. The information submitted is publicly available and can be used to help coordinate invasive-species programmes.
The iRecord system also plays an important role in collecting biological records. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, which operates the GB Non-native Species Information Portal with government and other partners, says improvements in online recording and smartphone apps have made it easier for volunteers to submit invasive-species sightings.
The Angling Trust recommends that anglers report invasive species sightings as part of the national effort to build accurate information about their distribution. It currently recommends INNS Mapper for sightings in England, Wales and Scotland, with iRecord available for species not covered by the mapping system.
What should you record?
A photograph can be particularly useful, especially where identification is uncertain. The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative recommends recording what was seen, where it was found and when it was observed, with a photograph where possible. They are simple details, but they can make a record considerably more useful to someone assessing it later.
Among the species that people using Britain’s waterways may encounter are signal crayfish, American mink and floating pennywort.
Signal crayfish are an established threat to Britain’s native white-clawed crayfish, while their burrowing can also damage riverbanks.
American mink are another species for which sightings can be valuable. Conservation projects use records to understand their distribution and support control programmes intended to protect native wildlife, particularly water voles.
Floating pennywort presents a different problem. The aquatic plant can form dense mats on rivers and other waterways, while fragments can be transported between sites on boats and equipment. British Rowing’s 2026 guidance encourages people to report sightings through iRecord and INNS Mapper alongside following ‘Check, Clean, Dry’ biosecurity measures.
The wider picture is one of increasing reliance on information gathered outside government agencies. Defra’s latest progress report says its monitoring now draws on public reporting alongside operational surveillance and datasets held by the GB Non-native Species Information Portal and the GB Non-native Species Secretariat.
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