Invasive Fish Threatens Mediterranean Livelihoods
LARNACA, Cyprus – Local fisherman Photis Gaitanos carefully removes a dangerous lionfish from his net. This isn’t just another day at sea. He’s now battling an invasion of non-native species that are changing the Eastern Mediterranean.
The lionfish, a striped fish with venomous spines, comes from the Red Sea. It’s quickly taking over the Mediterranean, eating local fish. This is hurting the roughly 150 fishermen in Cyprus who depend on those fish to earn a living.
Another troublemaker is the silver-cheeked toadfish, also from the Red Sea. It eats everything and cuts through nets. Worse, it has a deadly poison, so people can’t eat it.
The Warming Waters
Gaitanos, a fisherman with 40 years of experience, says that he doesn’t catch familiar fishes these days. His earnings are getting worse every year. He wonders how to stop this disaster.
Experts say the Mediterranean Sea is warming faster than most oceans. This makes it easier for these invasive species to thrive. The expansion of the Suez Canal also let more non-native fish in.
Europe’s Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis warns that unusual storms, made worse by climate change, make it easier for invasive species to settle in the Mediterranean.
Seeking Solutions
Some programs have been started to help fishermen. The European Union is paying fishermen to catch toadfish. They’re also paying scuba divers to catch lionfish. But these projects may not be enough.
Local fishermen are trying a new idea: eating the lionfish. Chefs are promoting lionfish as a tasty dish, after carefully taking out the poisonous spines.
EU Fisheries commissioner Kadis says that eating these species is helpful to the fishermen and limit the enviornmental threat from the species
Stephanos Mentonis, a restaurant owner in Larnaca, is serving lionfish. He says the fish is good, like other favorites such as sea bass.
“By eating these species, we can turn this threat into a chance for the fisheries sector,” Kadis said.
While there are challenges in doing this action, there are many restaurant and tavern that are included Lionfish in their menu.
