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[SANET-MG] exotic fish released to Florida waters



Glo fish are a fine example of what will spread in Florida waters. Like the
Pharm rice in california FDA seems wildly spreading messed up genetic
forms,why?

Aquarium Owners Release Exotic Fish in Florida Waters

SEATTLE, Washington, April 8, 2004 (ENS) - Sixteen species of fish from the
tropical western Pacific and the Red Sea, apparently set free from home
aquariums, are now living and possibly breeding in ocean waters off the
southeast coast of Florida, new research has found.
Bruce Semmens, a doctoral student at the University of Washington (UW) and
Christy Pattengill-Semmens, science coordinator for the Reef Environmental
Education Foundation, have found what they believe is an unprecedented
number of non-native marine fish in a concentrated geographic area. Their
findings are published in the journal "Marine Ecology Progress Series."

Emperor angelfish, with their blue masks and bodies striped in blue and
gold, were the most commonly sighted non-native species and are imported by
the aquarium industry in relatively large numbers.

Another commonly sighted non-native was yellow tang, a bright yellow oval
fish that is the most commonly imported species of the U.S. aquarium trade.

Using data on the aquarium trade and shipping traffic, the study is the
first to demonstrate that well-meaning pet owners can cause a "hot spot" of
non-native tropical marine fish, Semmens says.

The researchers found a correlation between how commonly ornamental marine
species are imported and how often they were sighted.

The 16 species were found in 32 different locales along the coast of Broward
and Palm Beach counties and in the upper Florida Keys. Some were in the
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Most of the species were seen at more than one place, which means more than
just a few aquariums have been dumped, Semmens says. It is not clear which,
if any, of the non-native fishes have established breeding populations, he
said.

"Typically, I'd say aquarium owners are more concerned with the status of
our marine ecosystems than the general public is, yet many appear unaware of
the potential pitfalls of releasing pets into the wild," Semmens says.

The study relied on information submitted by volunteer divers and snorkelers
through the Exotic Species Sighting Program of the Reef Environmental
Education Foundation, or REEF, based in Key Largo, Florida. Sightings were
confirmed with photographs, video or corroboration by other divers.

Semmens says it is unlikely the exotic fishes arrived in the ballast water
of ships. If the fish were being introduced through ship ballast, their
native ranges of the fish would correlate to where the ballast water comes
from. Analyzing data on shipping traffic to Florida ports, Semmens and his
co-authors found no support for this correlation.

Scientists are unable to predict which species will be destructive. The
largest set of intentionally released marine fish was carried out in
temperate coastal and inland seas of Russia in the 20th century. Sixteen
species became established, harming valuable fisheries, introducing
parasites, and the threatening the extinction of native species.

"Releasing non-native reef fish is like playing Russian roulette with
tropical marine ecosystems," Semmens says.

Even if introduced species do not have dramatic impacts, their presence is
unnatural and unwanted. "Divers visit the reefs of Florida to see the
region's natural beauty and diversity. It is a unique and magical experience
to dive on these reefs," said Semmens. "Adding new species to the region is
comparable to adding a few finishing touches to one of da Vinci's
masterpieces."

Aquarium keepers need to be educated about the proper disposition of animals
in their care, according to Paul Holthus, executive director and president
of the Marine Aquarium Council, an international non-profit organization
based in Honolulu that focuses on the way tropical fish are collected and
handled before they are purchased.

Education programs for dealers and aquarists could curtail exotic species
releases if they highlight the problems of introduced species and provide
ways for aquarium owners to sell or trade unwanted fish.

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