The Case of Lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean Sea Demonstrates Limitations in EU Legislation to Address Marine Biological Invasions

Kleitou, Periklis; Hall‐Spencer, Jason M.; Savva, Ioannis; Kletou, Demetris; Hadjistylli, Margarita; Azzurro, Ernesto; Katsanevakis, Stelios; Antoniou, Charalampos; Hadjioannou, Louis; Chartosia, Niki; Christou, Maria; Christodoulides, Yiannis; Giovos, Ioannis; Jiménez, Carlos; Smeraldo, Sonia; Rees, Siân E.

doi:10.3390/jmse9030325

Cited by 38 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…They arrived from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal with multiple subsequent introductions increasing the genetic diversity of the Mediterranean population (Bariche et al, 2017; Dimitriou et al, 2019). In just a few years, lionfish have become established in the Levantine Sea, the southern and central Aegean Sea and the Greek Ionian Sea, and individuals have reached Tunisia and Italy (Dimitriadis et al, 2020; Kleitou et al, 2021b); this is one of the fastest rates of spread of a Red Sea fish in the Mediterranean (Poursanidis et al, 2020). Lionfish in the Mediterranean have similar biological traits to those of the western Atlantic, such as generalist predatory behaviour, early maturity and rapid growth (Savva et al, 2020), combined with access to naive prey (Agostino et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regular monitoring and targeted removals can control lionfish in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Kleitou

Rees

Cecconi

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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A lack of biosecurity in the Suez Canal has combined with global warming and other human pressures to cause abrupt changes in the Mediterranean Sea. Throughout this region an influx of species is influencing the outcome of efforts to protect and restore nature. Despite calls for targeted removals of invasive species from protected areas, there is limited information about the effectiveness of this course of action from both an ecological and a socio‐economic perspective. In this study, coordinated removals of lionfish (Pterois miles) by volunteers/scuba divers at three marine protected sites in Cyprus were conducted. The removal efficiency was monitored using visual‐census surveys and citizen science data. Removals significantly decreased lionfish numbers but long‐term suppression of lionfish would require monitoring and repetition of removals when necessary, since population recovery was sometimes rapid. Citizen science yielded the data needed to understand lionfish population changes and guide the timing of removal events, but was characterized by large variation and potential outliers, highlighting the need for large sample sizes. Questionnaire surveys were used to assess the social impact of participation in lionfish removals; these showed that involvement had a strong positive impact on knowledge about lionfish and motivation to support marine conservation activities – the divers were even willing to pay extra to remove lionfish. Management reforms would be needed to capitalize on this societal motivation, and enable effective lionfish removals by scuba divers, coordinated by competent authorities. The EU aims to protect at least 30% of the marine waters by 2030. Removal events could help shield selected conservation sites from the adverse effects of lionfish and at the same time help establish links with local communities, strengthening the sustainable use of marine systems both at corporate and at societal levels.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regular monitoring and targeted removals can control lionfish in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Kleitou

Rees

Cecconi

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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“…In the eastern Mediterranean Sea, public awareness and local stakeholders concern are increasing (Kleitou et al, 2019) but this awareness should expand throughout the basin to allow the timely adoption of proactive measures (e.g. legislation, protection of marine‐related employment; Kleitou, Hall‐Spencer, et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite an ensemble of management and conservation measures against potentially invasive species, the adaptation and control of these expanding species largely relies on early detection and monitoring (e.g. Otero et al, 2013; Zenetos & Galanidi, 2020) and adapted legislation or protection measures (Kleitou, Crocetta, et al, 2021; Kleitou, Hall‐Spencer, et al, 2021). We therefore strongly support the necessity of further initiatives aimed at both identifying and projecting the potential future introduction, establishment or expansion of high IP species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving predictions of invasive fish ranges combining functional and ecological traits with environmental suitability under climate change scenarios

Schickele

Guidetti

Giakoumi

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

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Biological invasions represent one of the main threats to marine biodiversity. From a conservation perspective, especially in the context of increasing sea warming, it is critical to examine the suitability potential of geographical areas for the arrival of Range-Expanding Introduced and Native Species (REINS), and hence anticipate the risk of such species to become invasive in their new distribution areas. Here, we developed an empirical index, based on functional and bio-ecological traits, that estimates the Invasive Potential (IP; i.e. the potential success in transport, introduction and population establishment) for a set of 13 fishes that are expanding their distributional range into the Mediterranean Sea, the most invaded sea in the world. The IP index showed significant correlation with the observed spreading of REINS. For the six species characterized by the highest IP, we calculated contemporary and future projections of their Environmental Suitability Index (ESI). By using an ensemble modelling approach, we estimated the geographical areas that are likely to be the most impacted by REINS spreading under climate change. Our results demonstrated the importance of functional traits related to reproduction for determining high invasion potential. For most species, we found high contemporary ESI values in the South-eastern Mediterranean Sea and low to intermediate contemporary ESI values in the Adriatic Sea and Northwestern Mediterranean sector. Moreover, we highlighted a major potential future expansion of high ESI values, and thus REINS IP, towards the northern Mediterranean, especially in the northern Adriatic Sea. This potential future northward expansion highlights the risk associated with climate-induced impacts on ecosystem conservation and fish stock management throughout the entire Mediterranean Sea.

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“…Pterois miles has been found at 140 m depth in the Mediterranean Sea (Katsanevakis et al, 2020b;Poursanidis et al, 2020). Aggregations of over 30-35 individuals per 10 m 2 have been observed off Lebanon and Cyprus (Kleitou et al, 2021). Recently, separate reports from Turkey and Greece have recorded areas with densities as high as 30-40 P. miles individuals per 10 m 2 (Dimitriadis et al, 2020;Ulman et al, 2020;Kleitou et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Pufferfish and Lionfish Predation in Their Native and Invaded Ranges Suggests Human Control Mechanisms May Be Necessary to Control Their Mediterranean Abundances

Ulman¹,

Harris

Doumpas³

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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The silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus, from the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae) and the Pacific red lionfish (Pterois miles, family Scorpaenidae) have recently invaded the Mediterranean Sea. Lagocephalus sceleratus has spread throughout this entire sea with the highest concentrations in the eastern basin, while more recently, Pterois miles has spread from the Eastern to the Central Mediterranean Sea. Their effects on local biodiversity and fisheries are cause for management concern. Here, a comprehensive review of predators of these two species from their native Indo-Pacific and invaded Mediterranean and Western Atlantic ranges is presented. Predators of Tetraodontidae in general were reviewed for their native Indo-Pacific and Western Atlantic ranges, as no records were found specifically for L. sceleratus in its native range. Tetraodontidae predators in their native ranges included mantis shrimp (Stomatopoda), lizardfish (Synodus spp.), tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), sea snakes (Enhydrina spp.), catfish (Arius spp.), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), and common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). The only reported predator of adult L. sceleratus in the Mediterranean was loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), whereas juvenile L. sceleratus were preyed by common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and garfish (Belone belone). Conspecific cannibalism of L. sceleratus juveniles was also confirmed in the Mediterranean. Pufferfish predators in the Western Atlantic included common octopus, frogfish (Antennaridae), and several marine birds. Predators of all lionfish species in their native Indo-Pacific range included humpback scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis spp.), bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois), moray eels (Muraenidae), and bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii). Lionfish predators in the Mediterranean included dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), white grouper (Epinephelus aeneus), common octopus, and L. sceleratus, whereas in the Western Atlantic included the spotted moray (Gymnothorax moringa), multiple grouper species (tiger Mycteroperca tigris, Nassau Epinephelus striatus, black Mycteroperca bonaci, red Epinephelus morio, and gag Mycteroperca microleps; Epinephelidae), northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), greater amberjack (Seriola dumerilli), and nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum). The sparse data found on natural predation for these species suggest that population control via predation may be limited. Their population control may require proactive, targeted human removals, as is currently practiced with lionfish in the Western Atlantic.

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The Case of Lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean Sea Demonstrates Limitations in EU Legislation to Address Marine Biological Invasions

Cited by 38 publications

References 96 publications

Regular monitoring and targeted removals can control lionfish in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Regular monitoring and targeted removals can control lionfish in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Improving predictions of invasive fish ranges combining functional and ecological traits with environmental suitability under climate change scenarios

Low Pufferfish and Lionfish Predation in Their Native and Invaded Ranges Suggests Human Control Mechanisms May Be Necessary to Control Their Mediterranean Abundances

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