Marine Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered as a major threat to the local ecosystems, the native biodiversity, the local economy and the human health and they are described as one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Several studies suggest that this issue costs hundreds of billions of dollars each year to the local economies. Nowadays, both EU and UN include IAS among the biggest threats to the marine ecosystems, with several legislations aiming at tackling the adverse effects and their expansion. The Mediterranean Sea is currently facing a severe invasion with more than 1000 IAS already confirmed to be present in the basin (>5% of the total marine biodiversity). Greece, is one of the most impacted countries, with more than 300 reported IAS.
Is it Alien to you…. Share it!!!
You can help us collect more information on the distribution and the expansion of alien, rare, protected and threated species in the Greek, Cypriot, Albanian and Turkish Seas, as well as in all Eastern Mediterranean by participating in our citizen science project.Read more