Exotic Aquatic Organisms - International Development Research ...
Exotic Aquatic Organisms - International Development Research ...
Exotic Aquatic Organisms - International Development Research ...
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102<br />
Table 1 lists various species known to have been introduced to Taiwan at different times. An<br />
assessment of the status of these species, based on five criteria, is presented in Table A.II.8, in<br />
the Appendices to this volume. This assessment table (as well as Table 1) was limited to major<br />
food fishes only, as this was the focus of the workshop in which this report was presented.<br />
However, a list of ornamental fishes introduced into the country is given in Annex I.<br />
Status of Introduced Species<br />
Many of the exotic aquatic species introduced into Taiwan, such as the tilapias, have been<br />
greatly beneficial. A few, like the giant African snail, Achatina fulica, and the apple snail,<br />
Ampullarius insularu,n, have caused serious damage to the local environment. The more<br />
information is documented on introductions of exotic species, the easier it will be to monitor<br />
their consequences and the government will be able to manage the country's fisheries resources<br />
and aquaculture industry better.<br />
It is regrettable that the history of introductions of exotic aquatic species into Taiwan has not<br />
been well recorded. This report is the result of an initial effort to collect and compile whatever<br />
information is available from various, scattered sources. It is far from complete. Hopefully, other<br />
colleagues can gradually build upon the modest foundation that it has attempted to lay down.<br />
Gambusia affinis<br />
Finfish<br />
Gambusia affinis or topminow was introduced from North America to Taiwan in the early<br />
20's. It is generally accepted that this species was introduced to control malaria. It spread all<br />
over Taiwan as a wild fish and also came to be considered as a good experimental fish.<br />
Oreochromis mossambicus<br />
Oreochromis mossambicus or Mozambique tilapia was originally imported from Indonesia<br />
by the Japanese in 1944, when Taiwan was still under the Japanese occupation. However, its<br />
culture failed. In 1946, it was brought back into the country under rather peculiar circumstances,<br />
and not as a deliberate introduction for scientific research or culture purposes. Two Taiwanese<br />
men named Wu and Kuo had been commissioned as Japanese soldiers during the Second World<br />
War. When the war was over, and they were released from military service, they returned home<br />
to Taiwan with several 0. mossambicus which they took from Singapore as souvenirs, of which<br />
13 survived. Since then, this species of tilapia was cultured successfully and became very<br />
popular in Taiwan. In memory of its "accidental" introducers, it was called "Wu-Kuo yu", yu<br />
being the Chinese word for fish.<br />
It is true that this species has a number of weak features. For instance, it is not very resistant<br />
to low temperature, it spawns too fast, and when it matures, its color turns black, making it quite<br />
unattractive and not so acceptable to consumers. But because it grows fast, produces a high<br />
yield, and is a sturdy fish, it was readily accepted by the Taiwanese fish farmers and consumers<br />
as a cheap and available source of protein immediately following World War II. This fact is to be