Does aquaculture aggravate exotic fish invasions in the rivers of southern China?

Tilapia introduction in China: Economic boom in aquaculture versus ecological threats to ecosystems

“…Thus, we call for stricter management of tilapia culture to prevent its escape and spread, and for the monitoring and eradication of wild tilapias populations in southern China where tilapias are intensively invaded. Standardised aquaculture facilities and stricter management practices are suggested to implement for the introduction and cultivation of non‐native fish species with high economic value 7 . While ecological risk assessments of non‐native fish in aquaculture are still rarely used in China, ecological aspects still need to be studied with more emphasis for Chinese freshwater aquaculture to become a sustainable activity 25 …”

“…Tilapia, referred to as a group of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae, including Coelotilapine, Coptodonine, Heterotilapine, Oreochromine, Pelmatolapiine and Tilapiine tribes, is one of the most important non‐native species groups cultured in China 6,7 . They are native to Africa, but have been introduced into over 100 countries or regions for aquaculture under the recommendations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to improve the protein supply 2,8 .…”

“…Given the low per capita consumption of aquatic products (e.g., less than 30 kg per person in 2019, which is only 56% of the global average), 19 there is still enormous potential for the expansion of tilapia culture in China. Tilapia farming in China is a promising aquaculture activity and has the most important position in global tilapia farming 4,7 . As a result of the significant development of tilapia aquaculture worldwide, it has become the second largest group of aquaculture fish just after cyprinids, a very large group of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae 20 .…”

“…5 Tilapia, referred to as a group of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae, including Coelotilapine, Coptodonine, Heterotilapine, Oreochromine, Pelmatolapiine and Tilapiine tribes, is one of the most important non-native species groups cultured in China. 6,7 They are native to Africa, but have been introduced into over 100 countries or regions for aquaculture under the recommendations of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in order to improve the protein supply. 2,8 The success of tilapia introduction globally is primarily related to desirable attributes and advantageous life-history characteristics, [9][10][11] for instance, they are extremely hardy, physiologically tolerant and characterised by multiple spawning and extreme feeding plasticity.…”

“…Tilapia farming in China is a promising aquaculture activity and has the most important position in global tilapia farming. 4,7 As a result of the significant development of tilapia aquaculture worldwide, it has become the second largest group of aquaculture fish just after cyprinids, a very large group of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae. 20 In terms of production, tilapia is among the most important non-native aquaculture fish groups in China (e.g., 1655 thousand tons), just behind grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus Valenciennes, 1844), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes, 1844), common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis Richardson, 1845) and crucian carp (Carassius auratus Linnaeus, 1758), with 5571, 3812, 2896 and 2748 thousand tons, respectively, according to the most recent national-wide statistics.…”