Download Don`t Release Your Ornamental Fish: UC Davis

Don't Release Your Ornamental Fish: UC Davis Study Says Lionfish Could Become
Established in California Waters
Better recordkeeping of non-indigenous species coming into California urged.
John B. Virata
January 10, 2013
Click image for infographic
A UC Davis study says that the lionfish, a popular fish in the aquarium trade, could become established in the San Francisco
Bay and nearby waters as ocean temperatures continue to warm. The venomous fish is already established in Florida, North
Carolina, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean, where the waters are warmer.
A new study conducted by
the University of California, Davis says that marine aquarium species, including the lionfish (subfamily Pteroina, family
Scorpaenidae) could become a potential threat to California if they are released into local waterways and become
established. While the study says that there have not been any reports of lionfish in California waters, it does say that the
Indo-Pacific native fish, which is already established in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida and neighboring states,
could establish itself in the San Francisco Bay and nearby waters as ocean temperatures continue to warm.
In the report, "Aquatic Invasive Species Vector Risk Assessments: A Vector Analysis of the Aquarium and Aquascape
('Ornamental Species') Trades in California," lead author Susan Williams, an evolution and ecology professor with the UC
Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory says that more than 11 million non-native marine animals destined for the U.S. aquarium
trade pass through California's ports of San Francisco and Los Angeles every year. Of the 102 species that come into
California each year, 13 have been found in California waters, 9 of which have become established.
The report also identifies 34 species that can tolerate the state's marine climate and could become established in
California's coastal waters. Williams told FishChannel that the published scientific evidence on lionfish that have established
themselves throughout the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the east coast of the United States shows that non-native lionfish
can survive in waters as low at 53.6 degrees Fahrenheit/12 degrees Centigrade.
Here is a list of marine fishes cited in the study that were for sale in fish stores in the San Francisco Bay area that could
potentially survive in the bay and other bodies of water near the bay.
Sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis), Scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis), Orange filefish (Aluterus schoepfii),
Pygmy angelfish (Centropyge argi), Blueface angelfish (Chaetodontoplus personifer), White angelfish (Chaetodipterus
faber), Green chromis damsel (Chromis viridis), Harlequin tuskfish (Choerodon fasciatus), Flying gurnard (Dactylopterus
volitans), Porcupine pufferfish (Diodon holocanthus), Red grouper (Epinephilus morio), Banded cat shark (Halaelurus
lineatus), Sargassumfish (Histrio histrio), Western jumping blenny (Lepidoblennius marmoratus), Clown goby (Microgobius
gulosus), Bigeye squirrelfish (Myripristis jacobus), Red scorpionfish (Rhinopias argolipa), Yasha Hase goby (Stonogobiops
yasha).
A list of Caulerpa algae that are sold in fish stores in California, all of which have the potential to become established in
California waters. One species, C. taxifolia became established in Agua Hedionda Lagoon, in Carlsbad, Calif. in the early
2000s and was eradicated.
C. brachypus, C. cupressoides, C. racemosa, C. racemosa var. lamourouxii, C. racemosa var. macrophysa, C. racemosa
var. peltata, C. serrulata, C. sertularioides C. taxifolia(established and eradicated),C. peltata, C. prolifera, and C. webbiana.
The researchers also analyzed government databases of non-native species that are common in the ornamental fish trade
as well as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspection records for live animals that come into the state via California's ports
and noted that no government agency tracks the final destination of these species once cleared by customs, making it
unknown how many species stay in the state. The study includes a large list of recommendations that would help the
government better determine what marine species are coming into the United States as well as get a better determination
with regard to the numbers of animals coming in as well as improve record keeping by creating a centralized database with
centralized authority that all government agencies involved can tap into.
The study authors recommend that the state of California, with participation of the ornamental fish trade, consider short,
intermediate, and long term recommendations to develop a system that ensures competent tracking of all non-indigenous
ornamental marine species that enter the state. They are listed below as listed in the study.
Management Recommendations-Short term (< 2 years)Implement a single digital permit for non-indigenous species in
CaliforniaCross-link all agency websites on non-indigenous speciesImplement a ‘Don’t release’ campaign and assess
outcomesEnforce labeling requirements for importationsEnhance visibility and accessibility of web information on
importation of live speciesto California starting with a permit pathway diagram (e.g., Fig. 14), including internet links to Best
Management Practices currently availableCross-train USFWS inspection agents on Caulerpa taxifolia (USDA) and on
Caulerpa species prohibited by California (CDFG)List lionfish as a Restricted Species by its Latin name(s) (Pterois volitans,
Pterois volitans/miles, Pterois miles) and by all common names used on internet purchase sites and importation invoices
(including common, red, voltans, volitans, red volitans, black peacock, Indian)Initiate discussion with stakeholders improving
record keeping and data to determine the relative risk of the vectorEnhance regulation of internet sales through the use of
web crawlers
Intermediate term (2 – 5 years)Require reporting volume of importations in standard units, preferably as individualsRequire
information on trans-shipping of importations on state and federal permitsRequire reporting of Restricted Species in
possessionDigitize and centralize a database on species regulated within both California (including local to state level) and
the U.S.Centralize authority for regulation of invasive species in CaliforniaProvide sufficient resources to support agency
mandates (e.g., a surcharge for importations of live organisms or purchases of non-indigenous species)Develop and adopt
industry-wide best management practices for commercial, educational, and research aquaria
Long-term (> 5 years)Conduct a cross-vector risk assessmentProvide more support for, and higher numbers of, USFWS
inspection and enforcement agents in California and nationallyCollaborate with the ornamental industry to certify aquarium
stores for sustainable collecting and best management practicesRectify California non-indigenous species listings with
federal listings to streamline agency workloads and foster highly successful cooperation across agencies (e.g., in New York)
ResearchConduct a standardized sampling of species and volumes circulating within the main
vectors (‘vector blitz’)Conduct a cross-vector risk assessment based on expert knowledgeQuantify trans-shipping
fluxConduct an assessment of internet availability of ornamental marine speciesInvestigate the feasibility of ‘white lists’ and
‘black lists’ for ornamental marine speciesAnalyze marine aquarist behaviors in California to estimate the probabilities of
release and other determinants of the probability of introduction and possible incentives to reduce the riskConduct regular
surveys of non-indigenous marine species in California, with better coverage of critical habitats (seagrass, kelp)Reassess
the numbers and kinds of introduced and established ornamental marine species in CaliforniaInvestigate the diversity
(richness, numbers of individuals) of species imported or trans-shipped as live rockConduct community-level ecological
impact experimentsConduct economic impact assessments of the aquarium tradeInvestigate ceremonial animal releases in
CaliforniaImprove knowledge about non-indigenous marine plants
The complete study can be downloaded in PDF format here.