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Introduction history of non-native freshwater fish in Okinawa-jima Island: ornamental aquarium fish pose the greatest risk for future invasions

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Abstract

We examined the introduction history of non-native freshwater fish in Okinawa-jima Island, Japan, to identify the pathway posing the greater risk for future invasions and to measure the strength of ornamental fish introductions as a vector of new invasions using all available records of freshwater fish introductions to date. At least 45 non-native freshwater fish have been introduced to Okinawa-jima Island. Of those, 22 species have successfully established in natural waters and, consequently, non-native fish species represent 76 % of the total freshwater fish fauna. The most important pathway was via the dumping of unwanted ornamental aquarium fish, which accounted for 71 % of the total introductions. The introduction of ornamental fish has occurred extensively in recent decades, and all fish introduced since the 1980s have been ornamental aquarium fish. The overall rate of establishment success was estimated at 51 %, although this is undoubtedly an overestimate because of unreported failed introductions. Establishment rates varied between stocked fish (100 %) and dumped ornamental fish (39 %), which may reflect the low propagule pressure of ornamental fish. From the observed trends in freshwater fish introductions, the dumping of ornamental fish into natural waters is expected to continue if no action is taken to reduce this most important pathway. We recommend regulations against the release of unwanted pet fish into natural waters, better programs for returning unwanted pet fish to stores or local zoos, educational programs for aquarists and retailers, and regulations against selling and trading ornamental fish that are judged to pose a high risk of causing economic or ecological harm.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks are extended to Y. Sawashi (Ministry of the Environment, Japan) for providing detailed information on Lepisosteus oculatus. This study was supported by a grant from the Japanese Fisheries Agency, a Grant-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (No. 15580169), and the 21st Century COE program of the University of the Ryukyus.

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  1. Tetsuroh Ishikawa

    Present address: Miyagi Prefecture Fisheries Technology Institute, 47-6 Akaiwa-Suginosawa, Kesennuma, Miyagi, 988-0181, Japan

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  1. Laboratory of Fisheries Biology & Coral Reef Studies, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0213, Japan

    Tetsuroh Ishikawa & Katsunori Tachihara

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Correspondence to Tetsuroh Ishikawa.

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Ishikawa, T., Tachihara, K. Introduction history of non-native freshwater fish in Okinawa-jima Island: ornamental aquarium fish pose the greatest risk for future invasions. Ichthyol Res 61, 17–26 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-013-0367-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-013-0367-6

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