Invasive sea urchins being exported in Turkey

AKSAM has started a scientific study within the scope of combating invasive species such as pufferfish and lionfish that harm the ecosystem in the Mediterranean. The study will determine the biology of invasive sea urchins called 'Diadema setosum' and 'poisonous' spines. Sea urchins, which came to the Mediterranean from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the ballast waters of the ships, were also brought into the economy with this study. In this context, fishermen were allowed to hunt sea urchins. 1.5 tons of sea urchins caught in the first catch were exported to Italy. Samples were also sent to South Korea and some Far East countries. FIRST DETECTED IN 2006 AKSAM Director Serkan Erkan said that there has been a significant increase in invasive species called 'Lesepsian' in recent years, as well as the species of sea urchins living in the Black Sea, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, which belong to the echinoderm family. Erkan stated that these species, which ...