Outlaw Anglers, Eco-vandals, and Selfish Know-it-alls are Ruining Your Fisheries!
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION…. 3/23/09

Glossary

Fishery biologists have a wide variety of terms for practices related to the release of aquatic organisms. Unfortunately, the terminology can become confusing because of a lack of agreement on some definitions among jurisdictions and regions. Most of the definitions below were taken from published sources and are referenced.
Term Definition
Aquarium ( = ornamental) species* All species imported or transferred into confinement for ornamental indoor or outdoor use.
Bait organisms* Live specimens used (e.g., on a hook or in a trap) to allure target species
Indigenous ( = native) species*
 A species or lower taxon living within its natural range (past or present) including the area which it can reach and occupy using its natural dispersal systems
Introduction*
 The human-mediated movement of a species outside its present distribution.
Invasive species U.S. National Invasive Species Management Plan definition: “A species that is nonnative to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (NISC 2006)
Convention on Biological Diversity: “invasive alien species” means an alien species whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity (COBD 2009)
Native range*
 Natural limits of geographical distribution of a species
Nonindigenous ( = alien = exotic = nonnative) species A species or lower taxon living outside of its natural past or present distribution.
Release*
 Voluntary or accidental dissemination of an organism, or its gametes, outside its controlled area of confinement.
Stocking North American definition: A broad term covering most types of deliberate releases of aquatic organisms.
European definition: Deliberate release of an aquatic organism into a location where the organism already exists.
Transferred ( = transplanted) species*
 Any species intentionally or accidentally transported and released within areas of established populations, and continuing genetic flow where it occurs.

COBD (Convention on Biological Diversity). 2009.  COP 6 Decision VI/23. Alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats or species. http://www.cbd.int/decisions/view.shtml?id=7197 (March 2009).

*ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea). 2004. ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms. http://www.ices.dk/reports/general/2004/icescop2004.pdf (March 2009).

NISC (National Invasive Species Council). 2006. Invasive species definition clarification and guidance white paper. http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/docs/council/isacdef.pdf (March 2009).