First Record of Invasive Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Family: Cichlidae) in Akgöl (Mersin, Türkiye)

Abstract

Tilapias are one of the world's most productive and internationally traded foods. It was brought to tropical and subtropical regions for aquaculture purposes to it that spread quickly. The aquaculture sector in Turkey as well as in the rest of the world, it is one of the most important reasons for the spread of invasive species. Three specimens, was collected via gill net during a survey carried out in Iskenderun coast on June and August 2016. The fish samples were 12.4 cm, 20.0 and 21.4 cm in total length (TL) and 36.0 g, 120.0 and 212.0 g total weight (TW), respectively. In this study, Oreochromis niloticus were recorded for the first time in Akgöl (Mersin). It is though that this species was brought to Akgöl (Mersin) for aquaculture and later adapted here.