Marine protected areas are viewed by the public as oases of natural biodiversity. Their
true state is far different. Entire habitats overrun by Erythraean aliens were documented
in the largest, oldest and most effectively managed marine reserve in Israel (RamosEsplá & Valle Pérez, 2004). These authors emphasized the abundance of Erythraean
fish, which comprised over 37% of the total specimens recorded during their visual
census surveys. In Lebanon surveys conducted in 2013 reported that a fifth of the
identified species (56 of 268) were Erythraean aliens (RAC/SPA-UNEP/MAP, 2013). In
‘bioblitz’-style surveys of fish and benthos conducted in 2015 it was found that the
proportion of biomass of Erythraean aliens to native species was actually higher inside
the reserve than in adjacent areas in the fall, as was the abundance of the Erythraean
rabbitfish both spring and fall (Frid & Yahel, 2018). The lionfish has proliferated within
the reserve (Stern & Rothman, 2018).
Discussion
All Mediterranean coastal states and the European Union are Contracting Parties to the
Barcelona Convention (https://web.unep.org/unepmap/ viewed 28 March, 2020). The
Convention forms the legal framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan developed
under the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Seas Programme. A recent
publication acknowledged “The trend of new introductions of alien species in the
Mediterranean has been increasing. About 1000 marine alien species have been
reported in the Mediterranean .... Many of these species have become invasive with
serious negative impacts on biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem services” and
pledges “… to promote the development of coordinated efforts and management
measures throughout the Mediterranean region in order to prevent as appropriate,
minimize and limit, monitor, and control marine biological invasions and their impacts
on biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem services” (Action Plan concerning
Species Introductions and Invasive Species in the Mediterranean Sea, 2017, p. 5).
The 2017 Mediterranean Quality Status Report emphasized “Corridors are the most
important pathways of new introductions in the Mediterranean”
(https://web.unep.org/unepmap/2017-mediterranean-quality-status-report,
p.
280,
viewed 19 July, 2022). A “Draft Guidelines for controlling the vectors of introduction
into the Mediterranean of non-indigenous species and invasive marine species”
i states
that “the greatest influx of invaders resulted from the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
that allowed entry of Indo-Pacific and Erythraean biota.”
Recognizing that most factors that drive the introduction and dispersal Erythraean aliens
are increasing, and a large-sized invasion debt already accrued, it is in the best interests
of the EU and the Barcelona Convention signatories to proactively promote biosecurity
in the Suez Canal, and work with Egypt and the international maritime industry, to
address the threat to the Mediterranean biota, and by extension, to the economic and
social wellbeing of Mediterranean populations.
Vector/pathway management is the most effective strategy for preventing translocation
of species, thereby reducing introduction and spread of marine alien species. Egypt
nationalized the Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal in 1956, undertaking
all its assets, rights, and obligations. Egypt is a signatory to UNCLOS, signed and
ratified CBD, and is a Contracting Party of the Barcelona Convention, but it has made
no attempt to curb the influx of Erythraean biota into the Mediterranean. However, the
present Egyptian government is in a position to reduce future introductions. Recently
Egypt announced the development of 35 desalination plants, of which the first 16 plants
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
36
true state is far different. Entire habitats overrun by Erythraean aliens were documented
in the largest, oldest and most effectively managed marine reserve in Israel (RamosEsplá & Valle Pérez, 2004). These authors emphasized the abundance of Erythraean
fish, which comprised over 37% of the total specimens recorded during their visual
census surveys. In Lebanon surveys conducted in 2013 reported that a fifth of the
identified species (56 of 268) were Erythraean aliens (RAC/SPA-UNEP/MAP, 2013). In
‘bioblitz’-style surveys of fish and benthos conducted in 2015 it was found that the
proportion of biomass of Erythraean aliens to native species was actually higher inside
the reserve than in adjacent areas in the fall, as was the abundance of the Erythraean
rabbitfish both spring and fall (Frid & Yahel, 2018). The lionfish has proliferated within
the reserve (Stern & Rothman, 2018).
Discussion
All Mediterranean coastal states and the European Union are Contracting Parties to the
Barcelona Convention (https://web.unep.org/unepmap/ viewed 28 March, 2020). The
Convention forms the legal framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan developed
under the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Seas Programme. A recent
publication acknowledged “The trend of new introductions of alien species in the
Mediterranean has been increasing. About 1000 marine alien species have been
reported in the Mediterranean .... Many of these species have become invasive with
serious negative impacts on biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem services” and
pledges “… to promote the development of coordinated efforts and management
measures throughout the Mediterranean region in order to prevent as appropriate,
minimize and limit, monitor, and control marine biological invasions and their impacts
on biodiversity, human health, and ecosystem services” (Action Plan concerning
Species Introductions and Invasive Species in the Mediterranean Sea, 2017, p. 5).
The 2017 Mediterranean Quality Status Report emphasized “Corridors are the most
important pathways of new introductions in the Mediterranean”
(https://web.unep.org/unepmap/2017-mediterranean-quality-status-report,
p.
280,
viewed 19 July, 2022). A “Draft Guidelines for controlling the vectors of introduction
into the Mediterranean of non-indigenous species and invasive marine species”
i states
that “the greatest influx of invaders resulted from the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869
that allowed entry of Indo-Pacific and Erythraean biota.”
Recognizing that most factors that drive the introduction and dispersal Erythraean aliens
are increasing, and a large-sized invasion debt already accrued, it is in the best interests
of the EU and the Barcelona Convention signatories to proactively promote biosecurity
in the Suez Canal, and work with Egypt and the international maritime industry, to
address the threat to the Mediterranean biota, and by extension, to the economic and
social wellbeing of Mediterranean populations.
Vector/pathway management is the most effective strategy for preventing translocation
of species, thereby reducing introduction and spread of marine alien species. Egypt
nationalized the Universal Company of the Suez Maritime Canal in 1956, undertaking
all its assets, rights, and obligations. Egypt is a signatory to UNCLOS, signed and
ratified CBD, and is a Contracting Party of the Barcelona Convention, but it has made
no attempt to curb the influx of Erythraean biota into the Mediterranean. However, the
present Egyptian government is in a position to reduce future introductions. Recently
Egypt announced the development of 35 desalination plants, of which the first 16 plants
2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (Genoa, Italy, 22-23 September 2022)
36