Antwerp (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): A South African ship in Zeebrugge was delayed after spiders and cobwebs were found onboard.Expert Koen Van Keer emphasizes the need for quarantine to protect workers and prevent invasive species. He calls for better biosecurity measures to manage risks posed by exotic species, which can harm local ecosystems and human health.
The ship from South Africa with cars in Zeebrugge got delayed because they found cobwebs and spiders on board. They want to check for any dangerous animals before unloading which might take until tomorrow. Koen Van Keer the spider expert said it’s important to keep the ship in quarantine until they’re sure there are no dangerous spiders or creatures to protect the workers and prevent any invasive species from spreading. The spiders and cobwebs on the ship made people worry about dangerous species sneaking in. They need to check everything carefully and maybe use fumigation to keep everyone safe. The delay gives experts time to look closely and deal with any risks.
What are the risks of exotic spiders in shipping and how can be improve biosecurity?
In Zeebrugge they found a ship from South Africa with cars full of cobwebs and spiders which got a lot of attention. But it seems finding exotic spiders is more common than we think especially in Antwerp. Koen Van Keer the spider expert thinks it probably happens every daybut people don’t talk about it to keep things running smoothly and avoid any reputation damage. Without a proper plan to handle these biosecurity risks the issue gets worse. If there’s no clear way to deal with exotic species coming in through cargo many cases go unnoticed and unchecked.
Koen Van Keer is highlighting two major concerns regarding the presence of exotic spiders. Firstly there is a direct medical risk associated with spider bites, which can be harmful to individuals. However the broader and more significant issue lies in the potential damage to native species. When exotic species such as spiders are introduced into new environments they can outcompete and prey on native species leading to disruptions in the local ecosystem. This can have far-reaching consequences on the biodiversity and ecological balance of the area. Therefore, it is crucial to address these risks to protect both human health and the native wildlife.
What are the impacts of exotics species on Antwerp’s ecosystem and how should people address?
Exotic plants and animals in Antwerp can be a problem. People at the harbor might get bitten by poisonous creatures which is risky. But the bigger issue is how these invaders can harm the local wildlife. Some exotic species are already here and they might stay because of global warming. The number of reports about them is going up fast. None are very dangerous to people yet. But people need to see how they affect other animals and plants. For example the Great Steatoda spider came here from somewhere else. It’s pushing out the native spiders like the coffee bean spider and the house steatoda by taking all their food.
Now I am being called by companies as an amateur, that is not normal, that is the government’s job
Koen Van Keer, spider expert
Van Keer has been pushing for actions and a place to report these issues. He’s asking the government to step in and handle this properly. He feels it’s not right that companies are asking him an expert to deal with this instead of the government. Dealing with the potential health and environmental risks from exotic species especially with global warming is crucial. Precautions need to be taken to prevent these risks from becoming a bigger problem.
