The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Montego Bay, 1982) generally requires Parties to take all measures necessary to prevent, reduce and control the intentional or accidental introduction of species, alien or new, to a particular part of the marine environment, which may cause significant and harmful changes thereto (Article 196).

The Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (Kingston, 1990): each Party must take all appropriate measures to regulate or prohibit the intentional or accidental introduction of non-indigenous or genetically altered species to the wild that may cause harmful impacts to the natural flora, fauna and other features of the Wider Caribbean Region (Article 12).

Agenda 21, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED; Rio de Janeiro in 1992), contains a number of proposals which urges States to take action to address the impact of alien species in a wide range of sectors, such as combating deforestation, managing fragile ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, protecting the oceans, seas, and coastal areas, and protecting freshwater resources

Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB; Nairobi, 1992) requires Parties to the Convention “to prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species”
(Article 8 h).

Targets
Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi Biodiversity Targets 
Strategic Goal B: “Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use”, Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species