Assessment of Risks of Transgenic, Fluorescent Ornamental Fish to the United States Using the Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit

Commercialization of transgenic fluorescent ornamental fishes has met with controversy, with opponents questioning their environmental safety and the regulatory process that allows their legal sale. We therefore evaluated the invasiveness risks of three commercial transgenic fluorescent ornamental fishes (Zebra Danio Danio rerio; Black Tetra Gymnocorymbus ternetzi; and Tiger Barb Puntius tetrazona) using an internationally recognized risk screening tool, the Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit (FISK). Two assessors from the University of Florida independently scored each species and co-authors with management and regulatory backgrounds reviewed the FISK assessments. We conclude that transgenic fluorescent ornamental fishes represent a low risk of invasiveness in the conterminous United States. The need for sub-tropical to tropical climates limits potential risk to the warmest regions. Moreover, little history of invasiveness elsewhere, a lack of traits associated with persistence, and small body size coupled with predation-enhancing fluorescence indicate that the ability of these species to establish and cause impacts even in warm regions is limited. Our results suggest that transgenic fluorescent fishes are not fundamentally different than their non-transgenic conspecifics in terms of invasiveness, being of similar or less risk.  A low risk outcome from the FISK screening indicates little need for additional risk management actions.