Database on Introductions of Aquatic Species (DIAS)
The FAO database on Introductions of aquatic species was initiated by R. Welcomme in the early 1980s. It considered primarily only freshwater species of fish and formed the basis for the 1988 FAO Fisheries Technical Paper no. 294. The database has been expanded to include additional taxa, such as molluscs and crustaceans, and marine species. In the mid 1990s a questionnaire was sent to national experts to gather additional information on introductions and transfers of aquatic species in their countries. The database includes records of species introduced or transferred from one country to another and does not consider movements of species inside the same country DIAS can provide a registry of where aquatic species have been introduced and some summary statistics, as seen in the accompanying figures. Some example maps demonstate the extent of introductions. Introduced species have significantly contributed to aquaculture production, as they have in terrestrial-based agriculture. Aquaculture is the main reason for introduction in 38.7% of the database records. Charts (based on 1994 FAO aquaculture production data) show the contribution of introduced species to total aquaculture production by group of animal species and by continent. In Asia, where there are many important cultivated species native of the continent, the contribution of introduced species is a small part of overall production but still represents substantial production. In the other continents, the introduced species form a very important part of aquaculture production: 97.1% of crustacean production in Europe, 96,2% of fish production in South America and 84.7% in Oceania. Globally, 9.7% of aquaculture production comes from introduced species.   Prepared by Devin Bartley Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service   reference source Garibaldi, L., 1996. List of animal species used in aquaculture. FAO Fisheries Circular, no. 914, Rome, FAO.   Top		Who is making aquatic introductions? Courtesy of FAO/DIAS To view graph in pdf click here Reasons for introductions of aquatic species, as a percentage of DIAS records Courtesy of FAO/DIAS To view graph in pdf click here   links Fish health management further information Database on Introductions of Aquatic Species (DIAS) Maps on introductions based on DIAS data Introduced species and their importance to aquaculture reference source