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Process aimed at eradicating invasive species could have unintended consequences for US aquaculture sector.

Courtesy of John Fiorillo of IntraFish.com

A petition filed with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) by the environmental group Center for Invasive Species Prevention (CISP) could have severe implications for US catfish, crawfish and tilapia producers and companies that supply them with eggs for their operations.

The petition targets 43 fish species, seeking to list them as “injurious wildlife.” Such a designation by the FWS would prohibit the importation and interstate transport of any live animal, gamete, viable egg or hybrid of each species listed. The list of species includes tilapia, catfish and crawfish grown for sale to consumers, as well as ornamental fish.

Many aquaculture operations in the United States rely on eggs and fish shipped to and from neighboring states, which would be prohibited if the species were determined to be invasive by the FWS.

The petition targets red swamp crawfish, three tilapia species specifically — blue, Mozambique and Nile – and blue catfish, which in recent years US catfish farmers have been breeding with channel catfish to produce a hybrid that provides some production advantages such as greater survival rates, and faster growth.

Hybrids account for between 50-60 percent of the catfish produced in the United States, Jimmy Avery, extension professor, National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi State University Extension Service, told IntraFish.

The review of these species by FWS is being done through a so-called Ecological Risk Screening Summary (ERSS), a rapid screening tool to evaluate a species potential for becoming invasive.

Paul Zajicek, executive director of the National Aquaculture Association in Tallahassee, Florida, argues these quick screenings could lead to incorrect conclusions.

“The US Fish and Wildlife Service started the quick screens a number of years ago, and the National Aquaculture Association has commented repeatedly with great concern about these quick screens because they are incomplete,” Zajicek told IntraFish.

“What we’ve asked the service to do is if you find a high-risk species then undertake a full risk analysis where you involve stakeholders, you do the in-depth science review. You really try to get a true picture of what risk any particular species may pose to the United States or any portion of the United States.”

FWS has already named 11 species to the Injurious Wildlife list. It did so this September, and almost immediately afterward CISP filed to list the additional 43 species. The list of 11 includes crucian carp, Prussian carp, Eurasian minnow, roach, stone moroko, Nile perch, Amur sleeper, European perch, zander, wels catfish and the common yabby.

The issue of invasive species is a problem in many parts of the country and the federal government and state lawmakers have been looking for solutions.

It’s unclear what exactly FWS will do with the 43 species listed in the petition. It could find that no action is warranted, formally go out to the public with a notice of inquiry, or proceed with a rulemaking for all or a portion of the petitioned species.