Non-native fish species in Iraqi waters: a review

Non-native fishes are an increasing concern in Iraqi inland, estuarine, and coastal waters, but information has remained scattered in the form of sporadic reports, local-scale studies, and checklists. This review provides the first consolidated synthesis of non-native freshwater and marine fishes recorded from Iraq, with emphasis on species identity, introduction pathways, establishment status, ecological relevance and management needs. Records of non-native freshwater fish in Iraqi inland waters amounted to 23 records. Of these, 15 species belonging to nine families were treated as established non-native species, whereas eight species were considered opportunistic records lacking evidence of self-sustaining populations. Freshwater introductions were mainly associated with aquaculture and fisheries enhancement, ornamental release, biological control and secondary dispersal from neighbouring countries. The marine checklist comprised 44 reported species belonging to 30 families, mostly from Khor Abdullah/Khwar Abdullah, Al-Faw and the north-west Arabian Gulf coral reef area. However, marine records mostly document occurrence rather than pathway, establishment or impact. These findings provide the first national baseline for distinguishing established non-native fishes from uncertain records in Iraq and support a shift from simple species listing towards pathway-based monitoring, taxonomic verification, and targeted management of high-risk freshwater and coastal systems.