First report of the intentionally introduced kelp, Saccharina japonica, in the Pacific coast of southern Chile

• Published in: Algal research (Amsterdam) 2022-06, Vol.65, p.102750, Article 102750
• Main Authors: Camus, Carolina, Leal, Pablo P., Faugeron, Sylvain, Henríquez-Antipa, Luis A., Fernández, Pamela A., Cook, Sebastián, Cárcamo, P. Francisco, Vargas, Jaime, Uribe, Daniela, Buschmann, Alejandro H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alien species; Aquaculture; Kelp; Non-indigenous species (NIS)
• ISSN: 2211-9264; 2211-9264
• DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102750

We report for the first time the occurrence of the Japanese kelp Saccharina japonica on the Pacific coast of southern Chile following an illegal introduction for aquaculture purposes. In November 2020, a citizen complaint indicated that the non-native kelp was being illegally farmed in Canal Caicaén. Specimens of the non-native kelp were collected during successive surveys for molecular and morphological analyses, and reproductive viability tests. The species was determined using two mitochondrial molecular markers, COI and trnW-L. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the taxonomic identity of the specimen as S. japonica and revealed a genetic similarity with S. japonica × S. latissima hybrid cultivars Sanhai and Rongfu. In April 2021, several adult specimens became fertile at the farm site and the laboratory and released meiospores were able to develop into embryos after 15–20 days of incubation. These findings underline the risk for this kelp to disperse and colonize in the natural surrounding habitat, with potential impacts on local coastal ecosystems. •First report of the introduction of the Japanese kelp, Saccharina japonica, in the Pacific coast of southern Chile.•Molecular analysis confirmed the taxonomic identity of the alien kelp.•The alien kelp has the potential capacity to propagate under southern Chilean coastal conditions.•This illegal introduction of an alien species is an alert for the development of seaweed-oriented biosecurity regulations.