Iyyappan, T.; Santhakumar, R.; Arul Oli, G.; Padmavathy, P.; Athithan, S., and Arisekar, U., 2025. Enterprise attributes and hazard risks in the ornamental fish trade: Implications for ecosystem integrity and stakeholder engagement in southeast India. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), 131–145. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The release of freshwater and marine ornamental pets serves as a significant vector for introducing invasive species and hazards into ecosystems. Preventive measures are essential to reduce the risk of hazards in the ornamental fish trade, but little is known about biosecurity practices after the fish have crossed borders. Hence, the perception of enterprise attributes and the potential biosecurity gaps, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems and stakeholder involvement were evaluated using the survey. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by incorporating questionnaires to collect information on the actual biosecurity activities and hazard responses practiced by ornamental fish retailers and farmers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The study's key findings on the most dominant non-native species in the market and farming reveal that postborder preventive practices within the ornamental fish supply chain may not effectively minimize the risk of introducing hazards. Also, alarming statistics indicate that 44.17% of unwanted, dead, and sick fishes are disposed of in drainage, ponds, and rivers, further exacerbating environmental concerns. Most frequently, fish diseases are treated with drugs and antibiotics such as malachite green oxalate, trichlorfon, and formalin, as well as oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline, without proper guidelines and consultation with fishery experts. Therefore, it is imperative to allocate resources to enhance pre-and at-border control measures, including risk-based surveillance of ornamental fish imports. Additionally, these findings should inform targeted awareness campaigns and provide directed training on biosecurity practices and environmental education for individuals involved in the postborder stages of the ornamental supply chain.