Recreational fishing drives the global spread of aquatic non-native species

Huiying Yang, Phillip Joschka Haubrock, J. Robert Britton, Ali Serhan Tarkan, Erik Jeppesen, Shams M. Galib, Hugh MacIsaac, Yuelan Xu, Jingrui Sun

Recreational fishing provides substantial socio-economic benefits worldwide, yet its role in driving aquatic biological invasions remains insufficiently understood. Here, we assessed global evidence for recreational fisheries-mediated introductions of aquatic non-native species. Using a systematic review of 140 retained studies, we compared temporal trends, geographic coverage, introduction pathways and taxonomic groups to evaluate how angling-related practices contribute to non-native species invasion. We show that research effort is highly uneven, with strong concentrations in North America and Europe, whereas regions with large or rapidly expanding recreational fishing participation, including parts of Asia, Africa, and South America, remain poorly studied. Four major introduction pathways were identified: intentional stocking, live bait use, fishing gear and equipment, and direct release by anglers. Intentional stocking was the dominant pathway, particularly for fish, whereas live bait and contaminated equipment contributed to the movement of invertebrates, aquatic plants, pathogens, and associated organisms. Dominant taxa differed among pathways, with salmonids prevailing in stocking records, whereas live bait and equipment pathways involved more diverse invertebrates, plants, and pathogens. Our synthesis highlights recreational fishing as a globally important but under-governed invasion pathway. Effective prevention will require pathway-based regulation, stronger control of stocking and live bait trade, improved angler biosecurity, and targeted research in underrepresented regions.