Finding of nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) in Georgia, the South Caucasus

Abstract

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a fish from the family Cichlidae, native to Sub-Saharan Africa. Nile tilapia is one of the most cultured freshwater fish species worldwide and because of its commercial value and well-developed aquaculture technologies, it has been introduced to many countries. Nile tilapia also has become invasive in areas of suitable climate when escaped from aquaculture facilities to the wild. Georgia is the country in the Ponto-Caspian region situated on the southern slopes of the Great Caucasus eastwards from the Black Sea coast. Due to its very variable landscape, the climate of Georgia fluctuates from cold mountainous to humid subtropical type. Here we present the finding of Oreochromis niloticus in freshwaters of eastern Georgia for the first time, with the discussion of risk assessment with the climate suitability for potential establishment.