Pets, Aquarium, and Terrarium Species - Convention on Biological ...

<strong>Pets</strong>, <strong>Aquarium</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Terrarium</strong> <strong>Species</strong>: Best Practices for Addressing Risks to Biodiversity
6. CONCLUSION
Introduction of alien species as pets, aquarium <strong>and</strong> terrarium species, <strong>and</strong> live bait <strong>and</strong> live food is a clear gap of
international regulatory framework. There are no specific international st<strong>and</strong>ards that address risks of invasions
associated with trade in pets <strong>and</strong> aquarium species that are not pests of plants under IPPC, such as fish, reptiles,
insects, or invasions associated with live bait <strong>and</strong> live food.
Best practices of national controls on import <strong>and</strong> potentially export of pets <strong>and</strong> other living species documented in
chapter 5 demonstrate that collaboration between government <strong>and</strong> experts to conduct science based risk assessment
with transparency is important. To conduct risk assessment further capacity development <strong>and</strong> information sharing
are considered to be urged, particularly in developing countries.
In addition to a risk assessment process, appropriate legislation to prevent, manage, <strong>and</strong> control is needed. Such
an approach works best when coupled with public awareness campaigns <strong>and</strong> involvement of local communities.
The development of codes of practice <strong>and</strong> the raising of public awareness, in association with the pet, aquarium
<strong>and</strong> terrarium industries, could be effective approaches to avoid the introduction, release or escape of invasive
alien species.
Once invasions have occurred, they must be managed in order to limit future damage. Information from the risk
assessment process <strong>and</strong> from the tools described here may help in this endeavor. Eradication, although costly, has
been used successfully in several instances to remove invasive species <strong>and</strong> to allow native biodiversity to recover.
While eradication may be an option to consider, prevention remains the most cost-effective strategy over time.
Risk assessment is an evolving methodology that is being improved <strong>and</strong> revised continuously. Armed with adequate
information <strong>and</strong> a commitment to act, the spread of invasive species into novel areas can be successfully
controlled <strong>and</strong>/or prevented.
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