Fishermen from Mediterranean countries discuss invasive species

In the three-day forum organized by the General Commission for Mediterranean Fisheries (GFCM) and hosted by the Mediterranean Conservation Society (AKD), mutual experiences were shared and market-oriented blue economy solutions against the rapid spread of non-native species affecting the Mediterranean were discussed. While approximately a thousand non-native species were detected in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, more than half of them were declared to be permanent populations. This development poses increasing challenges for marine ecosystems, fisheries and local communities, as these species can compete with native species for habitat and food resources. It was stated at the meeting that the warming waters of the Eastern Mediterranean have become a habitat for species such as blue crab and lion fish, which are abundant in abundance, and that these species also offer opportunities for new sources of income. Akyaka Fisheries Cooperative in Gökova, which has been serving in ...