Invasive Callinectes sapidus and Portunus segnis in Libyan waters
Corsini-Foka et al. (2021), BioInvasions Records 10(4): 885–893, https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2021.10.4.13
886
Abdulrraziq et al. 2021; Al Mabruk et al. 2021; Al Mabruk and Crocetta
2021; Mahklouf and Shakman 2021).
The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 and the
lessepsian blue swimming crab Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) are listed
among the worst invasive species introduced into the Mediterranean
(Streftaris and Zenetos 2006). The Atlantic blue crab was first detected in
the north Adriatic Sea at the end of the 1940s, introduced probably via
ballast waters and/or for aquaculture purposes (Galil 2011; Nehring 2011;
Mancinelli et al. 2017a; Kampouris et al. 2020). To date, this crab has been
recorded from almost the entire Mediterranean basin, except for a few
regions, including the coast of Libya (Falsone et al. 2020; Shaiek et al. 2021;
Mancinelli et al. 2021).
The blue swimming crab, first detected in the Mediterranean in Egypt in
1898 (Galil 2011), has colonized extensive coastal areas in the eastern and
central parts of the basin (Shaiek et al. 2021). The species has only recently
been recorded from Libya, in 2017, west of the city of Tobruk (Shakman et
al. 2017; Mahklouf and Shakman 2021) and at Farwa lagoon, west Libya
(Shakman et al. 2019).
Both invasive decapods are large-sized and edible; C. sapidus, due to its
abundance, is already exploited in many Mediterranean countries (Mancinelli
et al. 2017b; Kampouris et al. 2020), while P. segnis is similarly being viewed
with interest for human consumption purposes (Abdel Razek et al. 2006;
EastMed 2010; Galil 2011; Corsini-Foka et al. 2015; Tureli and Yesilyurt 2018).
In the present study, the occurrence of C. sapidus is reported for the first
time from Libyan waters, bridging a knowledge gap on its distribution
range along the Mediterranean coastline. Furthermore, recent findings of
P. segnis document a significant rapid expansion of its distribution along
the western Libyan coast.
Materials and methods
Data on the portunid C. sapidus and P. segnis were obtained through direct
liaison by the authors with professional and recreational fishers and through
photos submitted to the citizen science platform for Libyan waters called
“Marine Biology in Libya” (https://www.facebook.com/MarineBiologyinlibya).
This citizen science platform focuses, since 2017, on monitoring alien
marine species and on raising knowledge of fishermen, divers, other sea
users and stakeholders about NIS and endangered marine species in
Libyan waters. The person submitting the photos/videos of species of
interest, such as NIS, on the citizen science social media platform was
contacted to obtain additional data about the record (date, location,
geographical coordinates, depth, fishing method and notes) and to verify
its credibility for the validation of the observation.
The portunid specimens were identified following Holthuis (1987) and
Lai et al. (2010).
Corsini-Foka et al. (2021), BioInvasions Records 10(4): 885–893, https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2021.10.4.13
886
Abdulrraziq et al. 2021; Al Mabruk et al. 2021; Al Mabruk and Crocetta
2021; Mahklouf and Shakman 2021).
The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 and the
lessepsian blue swimming crab Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) are listed
among the worst invasive species introduced into the Mediterranean
(Streftaris and Zenetos 2006). The Atlantic blue crab was first detected in
the north Adriatic Sea at the end of the 1940s, introduced probably via
ballast waters and/or for aquaculture purposes (Galil 2011; Nehring 2011;
Mancinelli et al. 2017a; Kampouris et al. 2020). To date, this crab has been
recorded from almost the entire Mediterranean basin, except for a few
regions, including the coast of Libya (Falsone et al. 2020; Shaiek et al. 2021;
Mancinelli et al. 2021).
The blue swimming crab, first detected in the Mediterranean in Egypt in
1898 (Galil 2011), has colonized extensive coastal areas in the eastern and
central parts of the basin (Shaiek et al. 2021). The species has only recently
been recorded from Libya, in 2017, west of the city of Tobruk (Shakman et
al. 2017; Mahklouf and Shakman 2021) and at Farwa lagoon, west Libya
(Shakman et al. 2019).
Both invasive decapods are large-sized and edible; C. sapidus, due to its
abundance, is already exploited in many Mediterranean countries (Mancinelli
et al. 2017b; Kampouris et al. 2020), while P. segnis is similarly being viewed
with interest for human consumption purposes (Abdel Razek et al. 2006;
EastMed 2010; Galil 2011; Corsini-Foka et al. 2015; Tureli and Yesilyurt 2018).
In the present study, the occurrence of C. sapidus is reported for the first
time from Libyan waters, bridging a knowledge gap on its distribution
range along the Mediterranean coastline. Furthermore, recent findings of
P. segnis document a significant rapid expansion of its distribution along
the western Libyan coast.
Materials and methods
Data on the portunid C. sapidus and P. segnis were obtained through direct
liaison by the authors with professional and recreational fishers and through
photos submitted to the citizen science platform for Libyan waters called
“Marine Biology in Libya” (https://www.facebook.com/MarineBiologyinlibya).
This citizen science platform focuses, since 2017, on monitoring alien
marine species and on raising knowledge of fishermen, divers, other sea
users and stakeholders about NIS and endangered marine species in
Libyan waters. The person submitting the photos/videos of species of
interest, such as NIS, on the citizen science social media platform was
contacted to obtain additional data about the record (date, location,
geographical coordinates, depth, fishing method and notes) and to verify
its credibility for the validation of the observation.
The portunid specimens were identified following Holthuis (1987) and
Lai et al. (2010).