Draft Assessment of Import Risk of Garra Rufa

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Draft Assessment of Import Risk of Garra Rufa Draft Assessment of import risk of Garra rufa For Department of Environment 25/5/2014 Table of Contents Summary ..................................................................................................................................................4 1. Taxonomy.............................................................................................................................................5 2. Conservation Status .............................................................................................................................5 3. Ecology .................................................................................................................................................6 3.1 Description .................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Size and weight range .....................................................................................................................7 3.3 Lifespan...........................................................................................................................................7 3.4 Habitat ............................................................................................................................................7 3.5 Geographic range ...........................................................................................................................8 3.6 Diet .................................................................................................................................................9 3.7 Social groupings ..............................................................................................................................9 3.8 Aggressive behaviour .....................................................................................................................9 3.9 Natural predators ...........................................................................................................................9 3.10 Risk to humans .......................................................................................................................... 10 4. Reproductive Biology........................................................................................................................ 10 4.1 Reproductive biology: characteristics, parental care and age at maturity ................................ 10 4.2 Spawning behaviour: timing, habitat requirements, frequency ............................................... 11 4.3 Fecundity: Number of eggs ........................................................................................................ 11 4.4 Hybridization .............................................................................................................................. 11 5. Feral Populations .............................................................................................................................. 12 6. Completed Risk Assessments ........................................................................................................... 13 6.1 Australia ..................................................................................................................................... 13 6.2 Canada ....................................................................................................................................... 13 6.3 New Zealand .............................................................................................................................. 14 7. Likelihood of establishment in Australia ......................................................................................... 14 7.1 Tolerance to environmental conditions ..................................................................................... 14 7.2 Ability to find food ...................................................................................................................... 15 7.3 Susceptibility to predation ......................................................................................................... 15 7.4 Life history characteristics ......................................................................................................... 16 2 7.5 Characteristics that favour establishment ................................................................................. 16 8. Potential impacts of establishment ................................................................................................ 16 8.1 Effects on native fauna .............................................................................................................. 17 8.2 Effects on prey/food sources...................................................................................................... 17 8.3 Effects on habitats/ local environments .................................................................................... 17 8.4 Effects on primary industries/ property .................................................................................... 18 8.5 Effects on humans ...................................................................................................................... 18 8.3 Introduction of bacteria, parasites or disease ........................................................................... 18 9. Recommended Import Conditions ................................................................................................... 19 9.1 Conditions on the animals ......................................................................................................... 19 9.2 Conditions on the importer ....................................................................................................... 19 10. Purpose of Garra rufa ..................................................................................................................... 20 10.1 Aquarium Use ............................................................................................................................ 20 10.2 Medicinal Use ............................................................................................................................ 21 10.3 Aesthetic Use ............................................................................................................................. 21 10.4 Health risks of Aesthetic/Medical Use ...................................................................................... 22 11. Guidelines for keeping Garra rufa ................................................................................................. 22 11.1 Transport ................................................................................................................................... 23 11.2 Housing and care ....................................................................................................................... 23 11.3 Unwanted specimens ................................................................................................................ 23 12. Australian Laws ............................................................................................................................... 24 References ............................................................................................................................................ 25 Appendixes (electronic files attached) ..................................................................................................... 1. Conditions for the Importation of Live Ornamental Finfish to Australia ......................................... 2. Pet Industry Association of Australia National Code of Practice ...................................................... 3. Guidance on the Management of Public Health Risks from Fish Pedicures ..................................... 3 Summary Freshwater habitats and biodiversity are especially vulnerable to human activities and environmental change (Dudgeon et al. 2006). The deliberate or unintentional release of non-native species has negatively affected Australian freshwater biodiversity (Humphries and Walker 2013, {Arthington, 1997 #95)}. It is of upmost importance that the potential risk and reward of any species be evaluated before allowing that species to be imported into Australia. Invasive fishes face many challenges in a new environment. Environmental tolerances, predation, nutrition, reproduction, dispersal and physical barriers all present challenges (Humphries and Walker 2013). Narrow tolerances (e.g. temperature, salinity, oxygen, turbidity, water velocity) limit a species’ ability to establish populations (Kolar and Lodge 2002). Garra rufa is a benthoplagic, non-migratory freshwater fish indigenous to the Middle East. Although this species has wide temperature, oxygen density, and pollution tolerances, they have low fecundity and are found in streams with salinity levels practically unheard of in Australia. There has been no previous risk assessments completed for the importation of G. rufa in Australia. However, they pose similar risks as other ornamental species which are regularly brought in to the country. Australian quarantine procedures are already in place to limit the biosecurity risks. G. rufa are most commonly referred to as “Doctor Fish”, as they can feed on dead skin and hence have been used for the treatment of psoriasis and by the spa industry for pedicures (Ozcelik et al. 2000; Grassberger and Hoch 2006; Ozcelik and Akyol 2011). They have been imported to dozens of countries
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