Alien species in the Italian seas – The Mediterranean is changing, and it is doing so quietly. A few days ago, a new specimen of spotted pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), one of the most dangerous and discussed alien species of recent years, was caught in the waters of south-eastern Sicily.
The report comes from Francesco Tiralongo, Scientific Director of the AlienFish project, dedicated to monitoring alien and rare species in Italian seas.
Lagocephalus sceleratus, originally from the tropical Indo-Pacific regions, arrived in the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal as part of the phenomenon known as Lessepsian migration. Since its first sighting in our seas, this species has spread rapidly, demonstrating a high capacity for adaptation and posing a serious threat to local ecosystems.
But the spotted pufferfish is only one of many protagonists of a broader transformation: the Mediterranean is in fact undergoing a process of tropicalisation, in which rising temperatures, the artificial opening of new migratory routes and the emptying of ships’ ballasts favour the entry and settlement of alien species.
These include, in addition to Lagocephalus sceleratus, the Flute Fish (Fistularia commersonii), the Reticulated Monacanth (Stephanolepis diaspros), the dangerous Scorpion Fish (Pterois miles) the Blue Crab.
Some are harmless or even edible, but others, such as the spotted puffer fish, pose a real danger: its flesh contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin lethal to humans.
Alien species profoundly alter the biological balance of our seas: they compete with native species for food and space, can introduce new diseases and alter the structure of marine trophic networks. On an economic level, the impacts are already visible: key sectors such as artisanal and small-scale coastal fishing are exposed to growing risks, both from the reduction of traditional resources and from the increase of unsaleable or harmful species.
For more than a decade, projects like AlienFish have been building a network of monitoring and awareness-raising in collaboration with fishermen, divers and sea enthusiasts.
‘AlienFish welcomes new collaborations and reports. – Francesco Tiralongo writes in his post – Contributing to scientific knowledge is the first step towards a more conscious management of marine biodiversity.’
An informative video published on Ichthyo’s YouTube page delves precisely into the characteristics of Lagocephalus sceleratus and the risks associated with its spread.
Alien species in Italian seas
