PIJAC Develops Invasive Species Toolkit
To help minimize the risk of invasive species from the pet and aquarium trade, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington) is soliciting case studies of best management practices that prevent the release or escape of former pets into the environment.
The $75,000 project is part of an international undertaking to develop a toolkit of regulatory and nonregulatory measures to curtail the introduction of animals, plants, pathogens and parasites via the pet/aquaria trade pathway, considered a substantial source of potentially harmful non-native organisms.
The final product will be made available in multiple formats: executive summary (PDF and print) and as a complete publication (PDF and print-on-demand).
PIJAC also is seeking financial sponsors to underwrite the cost of developing, designing and distributing the toolkit. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the publication by name and logo.
For more information or to contribute to the project, contact Dr. Jamie K. Reaser, PIJAC Senior Advisor for Health and Environmental Stewardship, at pijacscience@nelsoncable.com. [September 2009 PET AGE]
Pet Release Risks
The greatest risks of deliberate release of unwanted pets and aquaria species are associated with:
- Pet owners rather than commercial operations.
- Unregulated direct sales, such as sales through the Internet and newspapers.
- Pets that are free or inexpensive.
- Species that grow large, reproduce easily and in large numbers in captivity, have specialized dietary or other husbandry requirements, and have aggressive temperaments.
- Species that are ecologically suited to the geographic region in which they are maintained as pets.
Source: Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
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