Abstract

In August 1977 the Secretary of Interior authorized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a Research Laboratory in Gainesville, Florida to develop a national research program on exotic fishes which have been or are likely to become established in U.S. waters. A preliminary survey in 1977 found that 43 species of exotic fish have established viable self-sustaining populations in the U.S. Twenty-six of them are presently established in Florida with 5 species showing a major expansion in distribution during the last 6 years. Some of these species have created or are likely to create adverse impacts on the native fishes or their habitats. The laboratory will support the Service's efforts to stop further introductions of injurious species, determine the behavior and life histories of all established species, evaluate their actual or potential impact on the nation's aquatic ecosystems and develop a series of protocols to fully evaluate the beneficial or harmful characteristics of any new exotic fish being considered for introduction into this country. Research contracts are presently being funded to inventory the native and non-native fishes in North America and to determine the status, distribution and impacts of the non-native fishes presently found in the open waters of Florida.

Notes

There are 70 exotic species in U.S. waters, of which 43 species are breeding. Tropical fish farms are partly responsible for the introduction of exotics.

Examples

Walking Catfish - can migrate overland, has spread throughout Florida in 10 years, rotenone won't kill them.

• Black Acara - can spawn all year round - up to 12 broods per year.
• Siamese Fighting Fish
• Red Oscar - edible sport fish.
• Jack Dempsey - Cichlids which aren't spreading too much
• Firemouth - Cichlids which aren't spreading too much.
• Jewelfish - Cichlids which aren't spreading too much
• Spotted Tilapia - worrisome, is spreading fast.
• Tiger Barb
• South American Tiger Fish - eliminated from Florida by the Fish and Wildlife people.
• Red Bellied Piranhas - just starting.
• Goldfish - widespread, used as a bait minnow and gets away.
• Variegated Platyfish - bait fish also.
• Pikillifish- is eating mosquito fish.
• Green Swordtail - introduced to reduce the mosquito population but is actually less effective than the native mosquito fish.
• Blue Tilapia - growing fast, 4 1/2 lb. size, good to eat, however they spawn in large mouthed bass and bluegill fish spawning areas and crowd native fish.
• German Brown Trout - the only beneficial import.
• German Carp - not very edible, hard to eliminate.
• White Amir - reaches 37 lbs., introduced for weed control. It eats vegetation (hygrilla) but can eat plants which are necessary for other wildlife as well. It's impact is unknown as yet.

The National Fishery Research Lab is preparing an atlas of North American fish. It will include the name, habitat, distribution and status for fresh and brackish water fish and will undergo continuous revision.