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In a recent article, Shabtay et al. use molecular tools to characterize the genetic structure of the population of the Indo-Pacific spiny oysterSpondylus spinosusat five sites along the Mediterranean coast of Israel and at the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. The authors state that the results of their analysis provide evidence that coal carriers offloading at a pier next to the Hadera power plant were the probable vectors of introducedS. spinosusinto the Mediterranean. To refute the authors' statement factual evidence is offered as to the sources and pathways of the coal imported to Israel and the ballasting/deballasting procedures of the coal carriers in question. In addition, omissions as to the spatio-temporal distributional data concerning the introduction ofS. spinosusinto the Mediterranean are rectified. The veracity and accuracy of the geographic origin and the pathways of introduction are of major importance for management of bioinvasions. With much at stake for regulators, scientists, the concerned public and the marine environment, it is important that erroneous data are corrected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]