Wageningen University, Aquaculture & Fisheries Group, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wageningen University, Marine Animal Ecology Group, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands; Sportvisserij Nederland, Royal Dutch Angling Alliance, Leijenseweg 115, 3721 BC Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
Radboud University, Research Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Netherlands Centre of Expertise on Exotic Species (NEC-E), Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Nov 20;848:157641. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157641. Epub 2022 Jul 29.
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.
鲟鱼属于世界上最濒危的脊椎动物之一。然而，野生鲟鱼数量的减少与它们在水产养殖中的繁荣状况形成鲜明对比。此外，通过异宠贸易，鲟鱼被引入其自然分布范围之外的地区，在那里它们可能与本地物种竞争和杂交，并传播寄生虫和疾病。在这里，我们对莱茵河和默兹河三角洲的外来鲟鱼进行了深入清查，因为几个国家考虑重新引入本地、极度濒危的欧洲鲟鱼（Acipenser sturio）。我们的研究基于：(a) 鲟鱼养殖行业的清查；(b) 外来鲟鱼传播的报告；(c) 引入和传播途径的分析；以及 (d) 使用 Harmonia 协议进行风险评估。在荷兰、比利时和德国，共有 11 种外来鲟形目鱼类（鲟鱼和匙吻鲟）通过一个由 1000 多个分布点组成的复杂网络进行交易。在 53 个钓鱼池塘和 64 个其他湖泊和池塘中报告了大约 2500 条外来鲟鱼，而在水文连通的水域中广泛报告了大约 500 条外来鲟鱼。具有最高引入、建立和传播风险的物种是西伯利亚鲟鱼（A. baerii）、俄罗斯鲟鱼（A. gueldenstaedtii）和施氏鲟（A. ruthenus）。我们建议实施严格的贸易法规和切实可行的解决方案，以防止外来鲟鱼的传播。这些措施最好在流域尺度上采取。
