The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta
Sturgeons rank among the most endangered vertebrates in the world. Yet, the dwindling of wild sturgeon populations stands in stark contrast to their thriving status in aquaculture. Moreover, through the exotic pet trade, sturgeons are introduced outside their natural ranges where they may compete an...
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Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-conservation-paradox-of-critically-endangered-fish-species-tr https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 |
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/600891 2024-04-28T08:38:05+00:00 The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta Brevé, Niels W.P. Leuven, Rob S.E.W. Buijse, Anthonie D. Murk, Alber Tinka J. Venema, Jorrit Nagelkerke, Leopold A.J. 2022 application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-conservation-paradox-of-critically-endangered-fish-species-tr https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 en eng https://edepot.wur.nl/575414 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-conservation-paradox-of-critically-endangered-fish-species-tr doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research Science of the Total Environment 848 (2022) ISSN: 0048-9697 Acipenseriformes conservation Alien species Aquaculture Citizen science Exotic pet trade Risk assessment Article/Letter to editor 2022 ftunivwagenin https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 2024-04-03T14:47:52Z Sturgeons rank among the most endangered vertebrates in the world. Yet, the dwindling of wild sturgeon populations stands in stark contrast to their thriving status in aquaculture. Moreover, through the exotic pet trade, sturgeons are introduced outside their natural ranges where they may compete and hybridize with native species and transmit parasites and diseases. Here, we present an in-depth inventory of alien sturgeons in the delta of the rivers Rhine and Meuse, because several countries consider reintroduction of the native, critically endangered European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio). Our study is based on (a) an inventory of the industry of sturgeon cultivation; (b) reports on spread of alien sturgeons; (c) an analysis of pathways for introduction and spread; and (d) a risk assessment using the Harmonia+ protocol. In total, 11 alien Acipenseriformes (sturgeons and paddlefishes) were traded across an intricate network of >1000 distribution points in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Circa 2500 alien sturgeons were reported from 53 angling ponds and 64 other lakes and ponds, whereas circa 500 alien sturgeons were reported widespread across hydrologically connected waters. Species that posed the highest risk of introduction, establishment and spread are Siberian sturgeon (A. baerii), Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii) and Sterlet (A. ruthenus). We recommend to implement stringent trade regulations and practical solutions to prevent spread of alien sturgeons. Measures must preferably be taken at the spatial scale of river basins. Article in Journal/Newspaper Siberian sturgeon Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Science of The Total Environment 848 157641 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
Acipenseriformes conservation Alien species Aquaculture Citizen science Exotic pet trade Risk assessment |
spellingShingle |
Acipenseriformes conservation Alien species Aquaculture Citizen science Exotic pet trade Risk assessment Brevé, Niels W.P. Leuven, Rob S.E.W. Buijse, Anthonie D. Murk, Alber Tinka J. Venema, Jorrit Nagelkerke, Leopold A.J. The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta |
topic_facet |
Acipenseriformes conservation Alien species Aquaculture Citizen science Exotic pet trade Risk assessment |
description |
Sturgeons rank among the most endangered vertebrates in the world. Yet, the dwindling of wild sturgeon populations stands in stark contrast to their thriving status in aquaculture. Moreover, through the exotic pet trade, sturgeons are introduced outside their natural ranges where they may compete and hybridize with native species and transmit parasites and diseases. Here, we present an in-depth inventory of alien sturgeons in the delta of the rivers Rhine and Meuse, because several countries consider reintroduction of the native, critically endangered European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio). Our study is based on (a) an inventory of the industry of sturgeon cultivation; (b) reports on spread of alien sturgeons; (c) an analysis of pathways for introduction and spread; and (d) a risk assessment using the Harmonia+ protocol. In total, 11 alien Acipenseriformes (sturgeons and paddlefishes) were traded across an intricate network of >1000 distribution points in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Circa 2500 alien sturgeons were reported from 53 angling ponds and 64 other lakes and ponds, whereas circa 500 alien sturgeons were reported widespread across hydrologically connected waters. Species that posed the highest risk of introduction, establishment and spread are Siberian sturgeon (A. baerii), Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii) and Sterlet (A. ruthenus). We recommend to implement stringent trade regulations and practical solutions to prevent spread of alien sturgeons. Measures must preferably be taken at the spatial scale of river basins. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Brevé, Niels W.P. Leuven, Rob S.E.W. Buijse, Anthonie D. Murk, Alber Tinka J. Venema, Jorrit Nagelkerke, Leopold A.J. |
author_facet |
Brevé, Niels W.P. Leuven, Rob S.E.W. Buijse, Anthonie D. Murk, Alber Tinka J. Venema, Jorrit Nagelkerke, Leopold A.J. |
author_sort |
Brevé, Niels W.P. |
title |
The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta |
title_short |
The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta |
title_full |
The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta |
title_fullStr |
The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta |
title_full_unstemmed |
The conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : Trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the Rhine-Meuse river delta |
title_sort |
conservation paradox of critically endangered fish species : trading alien sturgeons versus native sturgeon reintroduction in the rhine-meuse river delta |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-conservation-paradox-of-critically-endangered-fish-species-tr https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 |
genre |
Siberian sturgeon |
genre_facet |
Siberian sturgeon |
op_source |
Science of the Total Environment 848 (2022) ISSN: 0048-9697 |
op_relation |
https://edepot.wur.nl/575414 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/the-conservation-paradox-of-critically-endangered-fish-species-tr doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641 |
container_title |
Science of The Total Environment |
container_volume |
848 |
container_start_page |
157641 |
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1797569277382885376 |