Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Atlantic Needlefish (Strongylura marina) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Strongylura marina, the Atlantic Needlefish, is a fish native to the western Atlantic from Maine to Brazil including the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This species lives in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. They can spawn in freshwater. S. marina has been introduced to Tennessee in the lower Cumberland River via a connecting canal where it has become established. There are no state specific regulations for this species and no World Organisation for Animal Health reportable diseases associated with the species. The History of Invasiveness for Strongylura marina is classified as Data Deficient due to the lack of information regarding impacts of introductions. The climate matching analysis for the contiguous United States indicates establishment concern for this species outside its native range. Much of the Northeast, Southeast, and south-central United States had high climate matches. The Certainty of Assessment for this ERSS is classified as Low due to a lack of information regarding the impacts of introduction. The Overall Risk Assessment Category for Strongylura marina in the contiguous United States is Uncertain.