Characterizing the US trade in lionfishes.

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Invasive Species Ecology
• Fisheries Management

Background:

• Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) have widely spread across the tropical western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Greater Caribbean.
• The subfamily Pteroinae includes additional species regularly imported into the United States, posing potential risks.
• Propagule pressure, a key factor in invasion success, can be surrogated by evaluating the trade of invasive species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the trade of lionfishes as a surrogate measure for propagule pressure.
• To assess the risk of introduction and secondary spread of lionfish species through international trade.
• To inform a proactive risk management framework for marine ornamental fishes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized one year of import records from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Law Enforcement Management Information System and two domestic databases.
• Captured trade data for all lionfishes in the US, including the invasive complex in Florida and endemic Hawaiian species.
• Conducted retail surveys across 10 coastal states to assess lionfish availability.

Main Results:

• The number of traded lionfish species was low relative to subfamily diversity, with only Pterois volitans and Dendrochirus zebra traded at moderate to high volumes.
• Lionfish trade is consolidated, primarily originating from two Indo-Pacific countries and entering through Los Angeles.
• Retail availability of lionfish species to consumers was limited.

Conclusions:

• The consolidated trade volume and diversity of lionfishes present a risk for the introduction of non-established species and secondary introductions of invasive Pterois volitans.
• Proactive evaluation of marine ornamental fishes in trade, combined with rapid risk screening, is vital for preventing new invasions.
• This research supports a proactive risk management framework to identify and mitigate risks associated with potentially invasive species before introduction and establishment.