GFID: A global fish invasion database.

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are experiencing significant threats globally due to the widespread establishment of non-native fishes introduced via diverse anthropogenic pathways. Despite the recognition of their ecological, economic, and social impacts, a harmonized global resource focusing solely on established fish species has been lacking. We introduce a standardized global database encompassing 1538 established non-native fish species across 193 countries (5495 total occurrence records), integrating comprehensive metadata on introduction pathways (such as Escape from confinement, Release in nature, Transport as contaminant or stowaway, and Corridors; subcategories include Aquaculture, Ornamental trade, Fishery stocking, and Ballast water), habitat types (freshwater, marine, and freshwater–marine), native biogeographic realms (Nearctic, Neotropical, Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Indo-Malayan, Australasian, and mixed/cryptogenic), impacts, and first record timelines. Impacts are classified into environmental, economic, and social dimensions, with detailed mechanistic coding (e.g., competition, hybridization, disease transmission, predation). This database, curated from GBIF, FishBase, GRIIS, the SInAS workflow, and primary literature, is presented as a data paper and offers an essential foundation for invasion ecology, conservation planning, and biosecurity policy.