From the Atlantic-Mediterranean to the Western Pacific: First record of potentially harmful invasive gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) in the Northern Taiwan

Abstract

In this study, a pair of matured specimens of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758) were collected at a depth of approximately 20 m near Keelung Port, northern Taiwan (25°11′32″N, 121°47′8″E), on November 23, 2024. The specimens were identified and confirmed as S. aurata through both morphological and molecular analyses. This marks the first invasion recorded of the gilthead sea bream in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, representing a significant range expansion from its native Atlantic-Mediterranean habitat. The likely cause of this invasion is attributed to escapes from the aquaculture industry. The potential ecological impacts of this potential harmful invasive species on the marine ecosystem warrant further investigation, and a well monitoring on the alien aquaculture species is also recommend.