Emerging risks of non‐native species escapes from aquaculture: Call for policy improvements in China and other developing countries

Global aquaculture relies heavily on the farming of non‐native aquatic species (hereafter, NAS). NAS escapes from aquaculture facilities can result in serious aquatic bio‐invasions, which has been an important issue in the FAO Blue Growth Initiative. A regulatory quagmire regarding NAS farming and escapes, however, exists in most developing countries. We discuss aquaculture expansion and NAS escapes, illustrate emerging risks and propose recommendations for improved aquaculture management across developing countries and particularly for China. In China, 68 NAS are known to have successfully established feral populations in natural habitats due to recurrent leakages or escapes; among the 68 NAS, 52 represent risks to native aquatic ecosystems. In addition to affecting a country's own biodiversity and ecosystem functions, NAS escapees can also threaten the biosecurity of shared waters in neighbouring countries. Policy implications. Non‐native aquatic species (NAS) escapes have already had adverse ecological effects in China and other developing countries. The importance of this problem, however, is not adequately recognized by current conservation policies in developing countries. To conserve biodiversity and to support the goal of FAO's sustainable aquaculture, developing countries should now take responsible actions to address NAS escapes through policy and management improvements. Specifically, these countries should pass comprehensive legislation, establish effective agencies and national standards and planning and enhance integrated research and education to deal with risk assessment, prevention, monitoring and control of NAS escapes. Given that China is the world's largest aquacultural producer, China can create a model for other developing countries that will increase the biosecurity and sustainability of global aquaculture. Foreign Language 摘要 全球水产养殖业在很大程度上依赖于非土著水生物种的养殖。非土著水生物种从水产养殖设施中逃逸可能导致严重的水生生物入侵, 这是联合国粮农组织“蓝色增长倡议”中所关注的重要议题之一。然而, 对非土著水生物种养殖及逃逸问题, 大多数发展中国家都存在监管困境. 本文探讨了水产养殖扩张和非土著水生物种逃逸的问题, 讨论了由此带来的新生态风险, 并据此提出了改进发展中国家特别是中国水产养殖管理政策的建议. 在中国, 已知 68 个非土著水生物种因反复的养殖泄漏或逃逸而在自然生境中成功建立了野生种群。在这 68 个非土著物种中, 已有 52 个物种表现出对土著水生生态系统构成风险。非土著水生物种逃逸, 除了影响一个国家自身的生物多样性和生态系统功能以外, 还可能威胁到邻国共享水域的生物安全. 政策意义: 在中国和其他发展中国家, 非土著水生物种逃逸已产生不可忽视的负面生态影响。然而, 发展中国家目前的生态保护政策尚未充分考虑到这一问题的重要性。为了保护水生生物多样性, 并支持联合国粮农组织可持续水产养殖的目标, 发展中国家现在应该采取负责任的行动, 通过改善政策和管理措施来应对非土著水生物种的逃逸。具体而言, 发展中国家应通过全面立法、构建有效管理机构及国家标准与规划体系, 以及强化综合性研究与生态教育等措施, 全方位应对和处理与非土著水生物种逃逸相关的风险评估、预防、监测和控制等事宜。鉴于中国是世界上最大的水产养殖生产国, 中国