Assessing risk communication in the pet and aquarium trade: An analysis of outreach and engagement efforts

The international pet and aquarium trade, and intentional or unintentional release of those pets by individuals, has contributed to the establishment of many species to areas where they are not native, resulting in detrimental consequences to local ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods. A number of outreach campaigns across the United States aim to communicate the risk of non-native pet release through education and the offering of alternative solutions to pet owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. Through semi-structured interviews with campaign managers, content analysis of campaign materials, and an analysis of relevant online search results, our project aims to assess the scope of these outreach strategies to understand whether they are effectively intervening in an individual’s decision-making process to release a non-native pet. Ultimately, this project’s outcomes will ensure that economic and human resources invested in risk communication campaigns are using effective and inclusive techniques.