Objectives

General Objectives

The objectives of the study include the development of innovative approaches to identify and map the distribution of the invasive silverstripe blaasop and lionfish species in the Greek seas, as well as the evaluation of tools that would allow controlling the size of their populations. These species have invaded the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, and have built up large populations in many areas of the Greek seas, while continuing to spread, with negative impacts on the fisheries and the marine environment. Methods and innovative tools to be developed, would –under the right adjustments- also be used to monitor and address similar questions for other invasive marine species.

SPECIFIC GOALS

  1. Extensive collection of fishery data from professional fishermen regarding the silverstripe blaasop and the lionfish catches.
  2. Investigation of population abundances and expansion rates of lionfish through underwater visual census techniques
  3. Mapping of significant habitats of the silverstripe blaasop and the lionfish
  4. Development of a WEB/GIS platform for the live monitoring of the species movements to facilitate management interventions. The platform shall be accessible to fisheries and management stakeholders through the web.
  5. Development of a process to precisely measure the levels of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in the tissues of the silverstripe blaasop and investigation of the parameters that affect it.
  6. Study of species behaviour.
  7. Development of effective fishing techniques for capturing the studied species, based on their behavioral characteristics.
  8. Test and evaluation of various methods to control the population size of the two species.
  9. Exploration of the potential for commercial exploitation of the invasive species
  10. Public awareness regarding the studied invasive species.
  11. Dissemination of project results to the public and stakeholders.