As extinction risk of imperiled aquatic species continues to increase due to impacts of climate change, anthropogenic habitat degradation, and deleterious interactions with invasive species, the utility of restoration aquaculture will continue to expand. The propagation of aquatic species for the express purpose of recovering threatened or endangered species or restoring unlisted, imperiled populations are priority activities conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Developing ecosystem-level benchmarks of success for these programs and continually evaluating and adapting to their outcomes is critical to ensure sustained contributions to conservation.
Framework analysis-based reviews were conducted, for twenty priority aquatic species propagation programs operated and funded by the Service, to evaluate their contributions to recovery and restoration goals. For each program, the authors reviewed details associated with recovery or restoration planning; captive propagation; post-release monitoring and evaluation; and adaptive management. Secondarily, gaps in information required to evaluate each category or assess the overall conservation contribution of the program were highlighted.
Priority propagation profile reports were qualitatively evaluated, and a semi-quantitative factor analysis was performed to identify broad data deficiency categories and the common species attributes among them. Extensive diversities in life history traits, geographic distribution, jurisdiction, conservation status and culture techniques exist for the species evaluated, and trends in data deficiencies among the programs appear to be driven by many of these factors. For instance, propagation programs for recovery of ESA listed species tend to have robust data associated with recovery planning and post-release monitoring and evaluation, while many restoration programs lack the requisite authority structure to ensure consistent application of these activities. Additionally, geographic range is positively corelated with gaps in post-release and monitoring data, as the increasing number of conservation agencies involved leads to challenges in maintaining a consistent approach.
The trends identified in this synthesis can be used to guide the reform of existing conservation aquaculture programs operated by the Service and others to ensure alignment with species recovery and restoration goals. Also, as more species require captive propagation necessitated by increased extinction risk, deficiencies in data required to evaluate conservation success can be preempted by planning those activities with the consideration of these priority propagation framework analyses and this synthesis.