Occurrence of the Invasive Crab Species Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, in NW Greece

Costas PERDIKARIS; Evangelos KONSTANTINIDIS; Evangelia GOUVA; Anna ERGOLAVOU; Dimitris KLAOUDATOS; Cosmas NATHANAILIDES; Ioannis PASCHOS

Authors

Costas PERDIKARIS Department of Fisheries, Regional Unit of Thesprotia, Region of Epirus, P. Tsaldari 18, 46100 Igoumenitsa
Evangelos KONSTANTINIDIS Department of Fisheries, Regional Unit of Thesprotia, Region of Epirus, P. Tsaldari 18, 46100 Igoumenitsa
Evangelia GOUVA Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta
Anna ERGOLAVOU Karamanli 7, 46200 Paramythia
Dimitris KLAOUDATOS Hellenic Centre of Marine Research, Athens, Helliniko
Cosmas NATHANAILIDES Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, 30200 Messolonghi
Ioannis PASCHOS Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta

Keywords:

Invasive species, ecological threats, marine pollution

Abstract

The present work aims to review and describe the current status of the invasive species Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, along the Ionian coastal zone of Greece and to assess its invasive potential. Blue crab has a long invasion history in the Mediterranean Sea, but the available data on the species occurrence in the Ionian sub-region are scarce and fragmented. The proximity of most of the estuaries and lagoons to local ports and to the shipping routes, as well as the swimming/dispersal ability of the adults of the species, indicate that range expansion will likely continue. The invasiveness risk of the species in the region was estimated with the use of a decision support tool (Marine Invertebrate Invasiveness Screening Kit, version 1.19). The observed impacts are discussed, along with urgent mitigation priorities. Measures to limit the expansion of this invasive species may include the effective management of ballast waters and the targeted increase of fishing pressure on C. sapidus populations. The importance of ballast water management is further highlighted by the existence of numerous ports with the capacity to serve ships with ballast tanks in close proximity to the recipient ecosystems. Moreover, the Ionian Sea, which connects the Adriatic Sea to the rest of the Mediterranean, is a significant shipping route for the local, regional, and international seaborne trade.

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Author Biography

Cosmas NATHANAILIDES, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, 30200 Messolonghi

Professor Cosmas Nathanailides

Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Dept Aquaculture, Irinis & Filias 1, GR 46100

e-mail: cosmasfax@yahoo.com

Current Job Title: Associate Professor of Fish Ecophysiology

Current Employer: Technological Educational Institute of Epirus

Academic Qualifications: MSc Applied Fish Biology, Plymouth, UK, 1990; PhD Veterinary Anatomy, London 1995.

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