Evaluation of the risks of recreational angling on invasive alien species spread: results of a survey in Belgium

Aquatic ecosystems are one of the most impacted ecosystems by biological invasions. They seem to be more susceptible to invasions and subsequent environmental alterations than their terrestrial counterparts. Moreover, eradication of invasive species in these systems proves to be very challenging. It is therefore crucial to prevent new introductions and secondary spread of species already present through a collective effort of all water users. The adoption of biosecurity measures is an efficient way of decreasing unintentional transportation of IAS plant fragments or larvae on equipment due to recreational or professional freshwater activities. To inform the development of the first biosecurity campaign for Belgian anglers, a national online survey for anglers was organized during the spring of 2023, and generated more than 3000 individual replies. The aim of this survey was manyfold: gain a better understanding of angler mobility and angling frequency, assess current routines of equipment maintenance and bait disposal and also assess anglers’ awareness and perception on the issue of biological invasions. Results indicated that there is a real risk that anglers can introduce IAS in uninvaded systems either by unintentionally moving organisms around by changing locations during one trip (25% of anglers) or by bringing them back from abroad (45% of anglers). This is especially true since only 7% of anglers adhere to the full check-clean-dry routine after each trip, and mobile anglers were not more proficient at cleaning their equipment. Additionally, some anglers sometimes release bait or undesired species to another location. Respondents’ perception on IAS was rather negative, with anglers citing them amongst the three main threats for angling – indicating they could be considered as allies in the fight against IAS. The results of the survey inform our future work with the angling community in Belgium to design adequate messages, efficiently reach the target audience and assess after if the campaign had an influence on angler habits and awareness.

Abstract of an Oral Presentation or a Poster

aquatic invasive species, Invasive species