Status of alien species in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

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However, there is no succces story for Caulerpa species even though several initiatives have been
developed for eradication of the species to the entire Mediterranean Sea.
To collect new and accurate information on the occurrence of alien species, a reporting and monitoring
system is required. In this system, fishers must report to fisheries cooperatives or relavent fisheries
authorities whenever they find unusual organisms in their catch. Then, the relevant authorities report
to the Ministry in charge of fisheries. GFCM or other international organizations collect these data
regularly to update the database. As several initiatives already exist for alien species, GFCM can focus
particularly on the fisheries aspects. The riparian countries can benefit from this database in case of
incidents related to alien species.
Regarding the introduction and transfer of alien species, some Mediterranean countries already have
legislation and guidelines, but the regional enforcement is weak and a regional updated code of
practice of the transfer or introduction of alien species is needed.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to impove the conservation of native marine biodiversity, creating
more MPAs and their networks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas may be mitigating fast spreading
of the alien species.A healthy pristine ecosystem may defend the native fauna and flora of the
Mediterranean and Black Seas while stress on marine environment favors the spreading and
facilitating of alien species. Therefore key species and key habitats, for example, Posidonia meadows,
should be protected for maintaining such healthy ecosystems to combat alien species invasion in the
Mediterranean Sea.
Alien species have already created considerable new market at least in the eastern Mediterreanean Sea
beside the fish production by aquaculture and regular fishing operations and this is considered as
beneficial. This demand is growing due to mass tourism mostly during summer months in the eastern
Mediterranean Sea.