Ecological risk screening of sturgeons introduced for aquaculture in Vietnam

Abstract

AbstractIntroduced non‐native species are major threats to global biodiversity. In Vietnam, non‐native sturgeons have been introduced and widely cultured, but their potential impacts on native aquatic ecosystems have not been screened. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate potential risks that sturgeons likely pose in Vietnam by using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS‐ISK) and interpret outcomes within a management context. Results showed that the Basic Risk Assessment (BRA) scores were 9.0–13.5 and the combined BRA and Climate Change Assessment (BRA+CCA) scores were 5.0–9.5. All five sturgeon species and two hybrid sturgeons cultured in Vietnam were classified as medium risk of invasiveness. Central concerns relating to introduced sturgeons included transmission of new infectious disease agents, and predation and competition for food with native species, especially threatened species. Controlling pathways of sturgeon importation through quarantine processes and preventing sturgeon from escaping into natural waterways are required if sturgeon aquaculture is to be sustainable, native species are to be protected, and biodiversity is to be conserved over the long term.