801 NW 40th Street
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561/391-6409
Fax: 561/391-6619
Manager: Mr. Paul Shafland
Email:
paul.shafland@MyFWC.com
| Non-Native Fisheries
Laboratory 801 NW 40th Street Boca Raton, FL 33431
|
The Non-Native Fish Research Lab is responsible for assessing the
role of 34 exotic fishes that have reproducing populations in Florida,
as of August 2007. These fishes include the illegally introduced walking
catfish and swamp eel from Southeast Asia, tilapia from Africa, the
Mayan cichlid from Central America, as well as the legally introduced
butterfly peacock which is native to South America.
|
OVERVIEW
Thirty
four species are now on
the exotic
fishes list (Acrobat PDF file; 28 kb) as reproducing in Florida's
freshwater lakes, rivers, and canals, and 21 of these are considered to be
permanent residents, some of which have been here for many years. As a
result of the damage these fishes could do to native fishes, the Commission
developed several programs to prevent additional releases of exotic fishes,
while also assessing and managing those exotics that have already become
established. The objectives of the Non-Native Fish Research Project are to
document the occurrence and distribution of exotic fishes in Florida;
assess their life histories, environmental limiting factors, and
interactions with native fishes; develop new management strategies that
incorporate these species and, consider purposeful introductions as a means
of improving previously disturbed fish communities. Details about many
exotic fishes are provided on our fish
id/biology page.
This research program dates back to the mid-1960s, when Commission biologists began sounding the alarm about the detrimental effects that exotic fishes could have in Florida. This program was expanded in the early 1970s, and now consists of a permanent facility and staff located on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
The range of most exotic fishes in Florida are limited by their inability to tolerate low water temperatures. Temperature studies conducted at the laboratory indicate most exotic fishes now in Florida will not be able to extend their normal range much beyond the Gainesville area.
In the late 1970s, biologists at the laboratory conducted early research into the use of the Coulter counter to separate triploid (sterile) from diploid (fertile) grass carp. This technology helped lead to a safer, cheaper, and much wider use of sterile grass carp in the management of nuisance aquatic plants.
Illegal exotic fish releases continue to be a serious problem in Florida, and whenever possible these fishes are eliminated. Some of these fishes are released by home aquarists who think that it is the most humane thing to do with unwanted pet fish. Releasing exotic fish is illegal and ecologically unwise. It is better to give your unwanted pet fish to a friend, local tropical fish store, or euthanize it (placing it in a plastic bag with water and freezing it is considered the most humane, since the lowered temperature first puts the fish to sleep) than it is to release it into a canal or lake where most will die cruel deaths but some may establish nuisance populations jeopardizing the natural balance of the biosystem.
New exotic fishes that are reproducing in Florida include the jaguar guapote, Asian swamp eel, and clown knifefish. Once an exotic species starts reproducing in open waters, it cannot generally be eliminated, and long-term and expensive studies are then needed to identify and minimize their effects on other fishes.
In 1984, after two
major studies of undesirable exotic fishes in the manmade canals of
southeast Florida and much additional research was completed, scientists at
the laboratory conducted the first legal introduction of an exotic fish
that was expected to become established. The South American butterfly
peacock bass (see
here for an Adobe Acrobat brochure
with more information) was introduced to help
control the abundant and undesirable exotic forage fishes in these canals,
and to increase recreational angling opportunities in the metropolitan
Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area. The butterfly peacock has helped reduce some
exotic fishes, and it has attracted thousands of anglers who spend millions
of dollars annually to catch this world class game fish. Currently, 11 of
14 International Game Fish Association line and tippet world records for
butterfly peacock have been caught from south Florida waters.
During the past 25 years laboratory biologists have developed an extensive understanding of the fish communities in southeast Florida urban canals, and they have found that these canals contain some of the most socioeconomically important fisheries in the state. Biologists are now working on a comprehensive fisheries management plan to protect canal fisheries and to optimize recreational angling opportunities and enjoyment.
Twelve brochures are available to provide anglers with detailed information
about fishing hotspots for peacock bass and other fishes in the south
Florida canals, along with an Exotic Fish Identification guide. These are available at our
publications site.
