Transplantation of Icefish (Salangidae) in China: Glory or Disaster?

Abstract

AbstractChina has a long history of aquaculture, and it contributes the largest aquaculture production worldwide. Aside from expanding aquaculture area and maximizing unit yield, introducing new potential species is greatly encouraged. Icefish (Salangidae) from Taihu Lake have been introduced into other lakes and reservoirs throughout the country since 1979. Neosalanx tangkahkeii was introduced into the southern part of China, and Protosalanx chinensis was introduced into the northern part of China, and both species have been introduced into a small part of central China and Yunnan Province in southwest China. Only one‐third of the transplantation was successful, and most of their yields experienced a burst‐down course. Intrinsic traits of icefish including annual life cycle, higher fecundity, lower trophic level, together with sufficient environment capacity supported the population forming and burst, while overfishing, pollution and short of food could result in the failure of the transplantation. The introduction of icefish brought in economic benefits, but severely threatened biodiversity, especially in plateau lakes in Yunnan Province, caused possible hybridization and carried diseases. According to different environmental conditions and economic needs at regional scale, further transplantation of icefish would face respective fate as resource conservation, rapid development, limitation and insignificance. Increasing attentions on environmental protection and sustainable resource utilization require a fresh evaluation and adjustment of icefish transplantation to achieve an ecologically healthy aquaculture.