What’s for dinner? Assessing the value of an edible invasive species and outreach actions to promote its consumption

Abstract

Promoting the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species has gained popularity to minimize its impacts while easing pressure on native resources. Weakfish Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is one of the most recent invasive fish species in the Iberian Peninsula (Europe) which once sustained an important fishery in the native range (Northwest Atlantic Ocean). Portugal ranks third in the list of the world's top fish consumers, so promoting a weakfish fishery could at least help minimize the impacts upon native species, since weakfish have innate traits that are likely appreciated by Portuguese fish consumers. However, introducing a new species to consumers is challenging owing to consumers' habits and unfamiliarity with the species. So, we aimed to (i) evaluate the acceptance of weakfish by a panel of Portuguese fish consumers and (ii) create outreach actionspartnerships with local Chefs and press releasesto explain to a broader public what invasive species are and promote the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species. The survey that we conducted to Portuguese fish consumers showed that weakfish has great chances of being well accepted by the public -90% of consumers would buy weakfish because they appreciated its appearance, flavour, and texture, besides being a wild fish. The outreach actions reached a few million people because 46 online articles were published, and three news pieces broadcasted on national television. Overall, our strategy greatly increased the public's awareness about invasive species, which can be replicated elsewhere in the world.

Catalyzing transformative futures in food and farming for global sustainability

“…Making use of invasive species in this way not only solves the problem of non-native invasive species, perceived as one of major environmental problems today, but it also helps make our food diverse and possibly more nutritious. Although this is an unconventional and controversial solution to diversifying the food supply, there is an increasing number of examples to suggest that where natural resource managers have 'given up' on controlling non-native invasive species, 'consuming' them can provide a potential solution to keep their populations under control (Bhagwat et al, 2012;Hoag, 2014;Cerveira et al, 2022). rich and diverse.…”

A non-native fish species reaches the south-western European waters: the Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus (Acanthuriformes, Sciaenidae) and its invasion history in Europe

“…marine traffic, pollution) and the ongoing global climate changes ( Katsanevakis et al 2014 , González-Ortegón and Moreno-Andrés 2021 ). These intruded non-native species can exert significant influence on ecosystems, either by preying upon and/or competing with native species or by introducing parasites and pathogens that have the potential to jeopardise indigenous environments ( Chalkowski et al 2018 , Cerveira et al 2021 , Ortega-Jiménez et al 2024 ).…”

Simulated digestion, uptake and colonic fermentation of Gorse (Ulex europeaus) suggests safe use as a source of protein concentrates and bioactives

“…In the context of policy-making and urban foraging communities, invasivory has gained interest [5,6], although formal scientific investigation on this matter remains limited.…”

“…The consumption of invasive species does not directly compete with the existing agricultural infrastructure and can be easily set up to complement existing food production capacities. In the context of policy-making and urban foraging communities, invasivory has gained interest (Cerveira et al, 2022; Mishan & Hamada, 2020), although formal scientific investigation on this matter remains limited. Gorse has spread far beyond its native habitat that has resulted in substantial ecological and economic damage to the introduced environment (Broadfield & McHenry, 2019).…”