Essay

Unintended consequences of using alien fish for human benefit in protected areas

Olaf L.F. Weyl, Bruce R. Ellender, Ryan J. Wasserman, Darragh J. Woodford
Koedoe | Vol 57, No 1 | a1264 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v57i1.1264 | © 2015 Olaf L.F. Weyl, Bruce R. Ellender, Ryan J. Wasserman, Darragh J. Woodford | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 03 December 2014 | Published: 07 July 2015

About the author(s)

Olaf L.F. Weyl, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa
Bruce R. Ellender, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa
Ryan J. Wasserman, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa
Darragh J. Woodford, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa; Centre for Invasion Biology, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa

Abstract

There is increasing pressure on conservation agencies to allow access to natural resources within protected areas for human benefit. Alien fishes are often seen as a convenient resource because their harvest does not conflict with conservation goals. However, allowing such access may have unintended consequences for managers. This opinion essay is intended to provide some insights into how promoting access to alien fish resources can add to the complexity of conservation interventions, may facilitate additional fish introductions and create dependencies on alien fish that could compromise potential eradication efforts.

Conservation implications: Management plans for the utilisation of alien fishes by external stakeholders must include clear exit strategies so that the ability to eradicate when necessary or feasible is not compromised.


Keywords

Alien Invasive Species

Metrics

Total abstract views: 4737
Total article views: 7545

 

Crossref Citations

1. Confronting the wicked problem of managing biological invasions
Darragh J. Woodford, David M. Richardson, Hugh J. MacIsaac, Nicholas E. Mandrak, Brian W. van Wilgen, John R. U. Wilson, Olaf L. F. Weyl
NeoBiota  vol: 31  first page: 63  year: 2016  
doi: 10.3897/neobiota.31.10038

2. Reconstruction of the historical distribution ranges of imperilled stream fishes from a global endemic hotspot based on molecular data: Implications for conservation of threatened taxa
Albert Chakona, Gavin Gouws, Wilbert T. Kadye, Martine S. Jordaan, Ernst R. Swartz
Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems  vol: 30  issue: 1  first page: 144  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1002/aqc.3251

3. Protected Areas and Endemic Freshwater Fishes of the Cape Fold Ecoregion: Missing the Boat for Fish Conservation?
Martine S. Jordaan, Albert Chakona, Dewidine van der Colff
Frontiers in Environmental Science  vol: 8  year: 2020  
doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2020.502042

4. Life-history of invasive common carp, Cyprinus carpio , within a natural lake (Groenvlei), South Africa
DL Mukhari, L Mofu, AT Lombard, CG Attwood, M Witteveen, MKS Smith, PD Cowley, OLF Weyl, J Pegg
African Journal of Aquatic Science  vol: 49  issue: 3  first page: 246  year: 2024  
doi: 10.2989/16085914.2024.2388554

5. Diversity, distribution and extinction risk of native freshwater fishes of South Africa
Albert Chakona, Martine S. Jordaan, Domitilla C. Raimondo, Roger I. Bills, Paul H. Skelton, Dewidine van der Colff
Journal of Fish Biology  vol: 100  issue: 4  first page: 1044  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1111/jfb.15011

6. Ecological research and conservation management in the Cape Floristic Region between 1945 and 2015: History, current understanding and future challenges
Brian W. van Wilgen, Jane Carruthers, Richard M. Cowling, Karen J. Esler, Aurelia T. Forsyth, Mirijam Gaertner, M. Timm Hoffman, Frederick J. Kruger, Guy F. Midgley, Guy Palmer, Genevieve Q. K. Pence, Domitilla C. Raimondo, David M. Richardson, Nicola J. van Wilgen, John R.U. Wilson
Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa  vol: 71  issue: 3  first page: 207  year: 2016  
doi: 10.1080/0035919X.2016.1225607

7. Understanding and Managing Freshwater Recreational Fisheries as Complex Adaptive Social-Ecological Systems
R. Arlinghaus, J. Alós, B. Beardmore, K. Daedlow, M. Dorow, M. Fujitani, D. Hühn, W. Haider, L. M. Hunt, B. M. Johnson, F. Johnston, T. Klefoth, S. Matsumura, C. Monk, T. Pagel, J. R. Post, T. Rapp, C. Riepe, H. Ward, C. Wolter
Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture  vol: 25  issue: 1  first page: 1  year: 2017  
doi: 10.1080/23308249.2016.1209160

8. An evaluation of the current extent and potential spread of Black Bass invasions in South Africa
Dumisani Khosa, Sean M. Marr, Ryan J. Wasserman, Tsungai A. Zengeya, Olaf L. F. Weyl
Biological Invasions  vol: 21  issue: 5  first page: 1721  year: 2019  
doi: 10.1007/s10530-019-01930-0

9. A framework for engaging stakeholders on the management of alien species
Ana Novoa, Ross Shackleton, Susan Canavan, Cathleen Cybèle, Sarah J. Davies, Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, Jana Fried, Mirijam Gaertner, Sjirk Geerts, Charles L. Griffiths, Haylee Kaplan, Sabrina Kumschick, David C. Le Maitre, G. John Measey, Ana L. Nunes, David M. Richardson, Tamara B. Robinson, Julia Touza, John R.U. Wilson
Journal of Environmental Management  vol: 205  first page: 286  year: 2018  
doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.09.059

10. River hydrology mediates fish invasions in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
Darragh J. Woodford, Josie South, Lubabalo Mofu, Josephine Pegg
KOEDOE - African Protected Area Conservation and Science  vol: 66  issue: 1  year: 2024  
doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v66i1.1806

11. Potential for a commercial inland fishery or just another water storage facility at Spring Grove Dam, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa?
Matthew J Burnett, Céline Hanzen, Alex Whitehead, Gordon C O’Brien, Colleen T Downs
African Journal of Aquatic Science  vol: 49  issue: 2  first page: 145  year: 2024  
doi: 10.2989/16085914.2024.2373096

12. Value of artificial ponds for aquatic insects in drought-prone southern Africa: a review
Michael J. Samways, Charl Deacon, Gabriella J. Kietzka, James S. Pryke, Carlien Vorster, John P. Simaika
Biodiversity and Conservation  vol: 29  issue: 11-12  first page: 3131  year: 2020  
doi: 10.1007/s10531-020-02020-7

13. Season and environment modulate aquatic invertebrates’ responses to trout and indigenous fishes in three South African mountain streams
Terence A. Bellingan, Sanet Hugo, Martin H. Villet, Olaf L. F. Weyl
Frontiers in Environmental Science  vol: 10  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1004939

14. Optimising invasive fish management in the context of invasive species legislation in South Africa
Darragh J. Woodford, Phillip Ivey, Martine S. Jordaan, Peter K. Kimberg, Tsungai Zengeya, Olaf L.F. Weyl
Bothalia  vol: 47  issue: 2  year: 2017  
doi: 10.4102/abc.v47i2.2138

15. A review of the influence of biogeography, riverine linkages, and marine connectivity on fish assemblages in evolving lagoons and lakes of coastal southern Africa
Alan K. Whitfield, Steven P. Weerts, Olaf L. F. Weyl
Ecology and Evolution  vol: 7  issue: 18  first page: 7382  year: 2017  
doi: 10.1002/ece3.3266