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Accurate checklists of species are essential for evaluating their conservation status and for understanding more about their distribution, biology and ecology and, therefore, the first step in order to effectively protect them. According to the existing literature, the Greek seas are rich in chondrichthyan biodiversity and herein, we update the most recent chondrichthyan checklist for the country regarding the species that are present in the Greek waters, correct unvalidated miscellaneous sightings and observations and provide guidelines about future research to improve their conservation. In total, 330 sources were collected from which 276 were used for further analysis, resulting in 1485 records of 67 species, among which 61 are confirmed by experts, including 34 sharks, 26 batoids and one chimaera. We are further listing six species as "Questionable/Not Confirmed". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over one third of sharks, rays and chimaeras (chondrichthyans) are threatened with extinction globally. In the Mediterranean Sea, more than half of chondrichthyan species face this risk, although a variety of international, regional, and national rules and regulations apply directly and indirectly targeting management and conservation for these species. In this work, we provide an overview of relevant legislation and policies in the region, which regulate, inter alia, commercial fisheries, while highlighting through cases studies how implementation in practice at national level looks like. Horizontal gaps and inconsistencies that hinder chondrichthyan management in the region are also illustrated. Furthermore, we present recommendations for improvement and additional tools that can be used, even if not originally or explicitly targeting chondrichthyans, for improving the management of these taxa in the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondrichthyans are apex predators influencing the trophic web through a top-down process thus their depletion will affect the remaining biota. Notwithstanding that, research on chondrichthyans is sparse or data-limited in several biogeographic areas worldwide, including the Levantine Sea. We revise and update the knowledge of chondrichthyans in Cyprus based on a bibliographic review that gains information retrieved from peer-reviewed and grey literature, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (135 records of at least 18 species) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (65 records of at least14 species), and the citizen science project Mediterranean Elasmobranchs Citizen Observations (117 records per 23 species). Our updated checklist reports 60 species that account for about 70% of the Mediterranean chondrichthyan biota. The list includes 15 more species than the previous checklist and our study reports three new species for Cyprus waters, namely the blackmouth catshark Dalatias licha, the round fantail stingray Taeniurops grabatus, and the sawback angelshark Squatina aculeata. Our research highlights the need for conservation measures and more studies regarding the highly threatened blackchin guitarfish Glaucostegus cemiculus and the devil ray Mobula mobular, and stresses the importance for training a new generation of observers to strengthen the knowledge and conservation of elasmobranchs in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of pufferfish species (Diodontidae and Tetraodontidae) have invaded or expanded their ranges in the Mediterranean Sea (Table). Pufferfish species (Diodontidae and Tetraodontidae) reported in the Mediterranean to date Here, we report the first confirmed record of the spot-fin porcupinefish I Diodon hystrix i Linnaeus, 1758 from the eastern Mediterranean, and the third from the entire region, after its report by a spearfisher. Visual and genetic results unambiguously identify the specimen reported here as a spot-fin porcupinefish, I Diodon hystrix. i All three Mediterranean records for this species were found far from each other and do not suggest a range expansion from the eastern Atlantic. [Extracted from the article]

Angel Sharks are among the most threatened families of fish in the world. In the Mediterranean three species are present facing a severe depletion with several local extinction events as a result of overexploitation by fisheries. Hereby, we present 7 additional records of Squatina squatina from Corsica contributing to the new regional action plan for Angel Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea. Most records include juvenile specimens, indicating that the area might be a nursery ground for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two specimens of the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps) were observed in the estuarine environment of the River Asinaro (Sicily). These records represent the easternmost and southernmost observations of the species in the Mediterranean Sea, and the first confirmed record in the Ionian Sea (central Mediterranean Sea). We also provide notes about its habitat and current distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since prehistoric times, cetaceans have been important food sources, but they also have been seen as monsters of the sea, a perception that did not change much during the past centuries. Due to a better understanding of their biology in recent years, the public perception towards cetaceans has been evolving. Various studies have been developed aiming to evaluate the attitude and perception of humans towards cetaceans, but these have been local and focused on specific target groups. Our study aimed to evaluate the attitude of the public towards cetaceans on a wide scale by using an international online questionnaire distributed exclusively on social media. An attitudinal scale proposed by Kellert (1985) on a Likert scale matrix was used with nine statements referring to dolphins and nine referring to whales. Even though specific constraints occur from such types of research (e.g., mostly highly educated and young respondents from developed countries), 5,222 responses were collected from 107 countries in total. While Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania were well represented, the number of answers from Africa and Asia were limited. Our results revealed a shift in the public attitude towards cetaceans, with the majority of people exhibiting a positive attitude following the global trend of a rising appreciation for wildlife. Whaling nations and ex-whaling nations that have continued that practice until recently exhibited a more negative attitude towards cetaceans, revealing the importance of culture, heritage, and memory in shaping attitudes. Finally, we discuss our findings under the light of the culture and history of different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 5th November 2017, a puffer fish specimen was caught in the Aegean Sea. Morphological and molecular analysis identified it as Lagocephalus guentheri. This first record from Greek waters represents the westernmost observation of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The expansion and establishment of puffer fish species in the basin are discussed, with particular emphasis on the importance of the additional use of molecular analysis for increasing the efficiency in understanding species spread and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citizen science has been proven to be a valuable tool in monitoring marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea contributing to the early detection and the monitoring of nonindigenous species (NIS) often by combining the use of social media and smartphone technology in data collection. In May 2016, iSea launched a relative project aiming to record the information on the occurrence, distribution and expansion of marine alien species in Greek and adjacent waters. The present paper describes the first report of the Lessepsian prawn Penaeus pulchricaudatus (Decapoda, Dendrobranchiata, Penaeidae) and provides strong evidence on the establishment of the alien prawns P. aztecus and P. hathor in Cretan waters based on the occurrences reported in the present study and on previous records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The impact of recreational fishing on fish stocks remains largely unknown, as this is inherently difficult to monitor, especially in areas such as the Mediterranean Sea where many species are targeted using a variety of fishing gears and techniques. This study attempts to complement existing data sets and construct the profile of recreational fisheries in the EU‐Mediterranean countries using videos publicly available on social media. A total of 1526 video records were selected, featuring the capture of 7799 fish specimens. The results show recreational fishing is multispecies in nature (26 species contributed to >80% % of the most numerically important species caught) and exhibits a spatially homogeneous pattern, with differences in species composition being mostly dependent on the fishing technique used rather than on the country. Such findings fill an important knowledge gap on recreational fishing activities, and the methodology provides an innovative approach to gather statistics on data‐poor thematic areas that can potentially complement other data sets, such as the EU Data Collection Multi‐Annual Programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guitarfishes characterized by special life history traits and comprised a very fragile resource, whereas the insufficient scientific information makes them a group for major conservation concern of the world oceans. The present study aims to present new records on guitarfishes based on unconventional data collection comprised by citizen scientists&' reports, social and mass media search, in-depth targeted interviews with expert fishermen and on official reconstructed fisheries statistics. This multiple-folds analysis represents a valuable case study for determining potentially important areas for these endangered species with scarcity of records in Greece. Results exhibited a high concertation of guitarfish sightings in two areas of the Greek Aegean part, both very close to published sightings from the Aegean coast of Turkey. We found that the axis of North to South, from Lesvos Island down to Rhodes Island is a critical area for guitarfish in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Additional information on guitarfish sightings will confirm our findings, enrich our knowledge on guitarfish occurrence in the Greek Seas and contribute in future recommendations on their protection, to avoid extinction of these rare batoids in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examined the use of online shared videos and other social media in conservation efforts for the Delphinidae family in the Mediterranean Hellenic Sea. The family of marine animals include the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncartus, the striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba, the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphus delphi and the Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus. The biogeographic profiles of these dolphins are described.

Bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) of the Gulf of Ambracia are exposed to numerous growing anthropogenic impacts, rendering them more prone to cutaneous changes. The prevalence of skin conditions in this resident population was evaluated based on photo-identification. Five skin lesions previously described in other studies were considered, namely dark-fringed spots, white-fringed spots, orange patch, tattoo-like and white fin-fringe, in addition to a new particularly severe condition named as “white dots” (WD). A 37% prevalence of epidermal lesions was detected on a total of 153 dolphins. The newly identified WD was the skin condition most frequently observed (45%) in the area, showing considerable differences on its severity between individuals. From 29 dolphins affected by WD in 2012, two were severely affected throughout their 10-year photo-id records and all of them either worsened over the years, or maintained their WD condition. No cases were found in which WD resolved over time. The increasingly degraded conditions of the Gulf of Ambracia may be influencing their epidermal integrity or causing them physiological stress. The epidermal conditions here reported, in some cases very conspicuous and relatively easy to monitor over the years, might act as indicators of environmental burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can protect and restore marine biodiversity and fisheries, but there are concerns that they may also benefit invasive species. The spatial and temporal colonization of invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) in the eastern Mediterranean was compared across zones with varying fishing restrictions (no fishing, recreational and commercial fishing, and commercial fishing only), and stations where targeted removal events were conducted by volunteer SCUBA divers. Lionfish density in no fishing areas was nearly double that of areas with commercial fishing only, and over four times greater than in areas where both commercial and recreational fishing were allowed. Lionfish density increased with depth, possibly due to easier human exploitation in shallow waters (0–10 m) that are accessible to recreational spearfishers. Targeted removals by volunteer divers decreased lionfish densities by over 60%, while areas without removals had a 200%–400% increase. Along with management actions, natural and ecological processes might drive lionfish densities within MPAs, and the speed with which lionfish colonized fishery‐restricted zones, emphasized the need for a more sophisticated MPA management strategy that considers invasive species impacts and dynamics in an ecosystem‐based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐indigenous species (NIS) are spreading and reshaping Mediterranean Sea biological communities and fishery resources. The present study used fisheries data and structured interviews to assess the impacts of NIS on recreational and commercial fishers in Cyprus. NIS that have been present in Cyprus for more than two decades were mostly perceived by local fishers as native, NIS with high market value were considered to be beneficial, and venomous or poisonous NIS were considered to be deleterious. Pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae) were identified by fishers as causing significant economic damage, which undermines the sustainability of the commercial fishing sector. The most popular and highly priced NIS were rabbitfishes (Siganus spp.). In terms of commercial landings, six non‐indigenous taxa contributed over a quarter of the total landing value and more than half during the summer season. The results of the present study emphasised the multifaceted interactions of NIS with the fishing sector, and how policy objectives may not align with social and commercial fishery interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondrichthyans are considered a highly threatened marine species, due both to the intense fishing pressure they have experienced in the world’s Oceans over several decades, and other threats, such as habitat loss, climate change and marine pollution. A rapid decline in their populations could trigger significant negative changes in marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for improved conservation measures. This study analyzes the current state of this group in the waters of Montenegro (in the southeastern Adriatic Sea). The first national checklist is provided here, comprising of 44 species, with information on their occurrence frequencies in Montenegrin fishery catches. The dataset used consists of 1469 records obtained from 281 field samplings conducted as part of the official monitoring of commercial fisheries (DCF-DCRF) as well as 1222 records derived from citizen science. The latter contributed significantly in documenting a greater number of species, particularly those considered threatened or rare in the region, and/or overlooked by DCF-DCRF monitoring. The frequency of species in Montenegrin catches is described based on the percentage of their records in the total number of records originating from local fisheries. The obtained results indicate that only 16% of the species recorded in Montenegro are commonly present in country’s catches, while 66% are either rare or not observed in local fishery. The creation of the country’s first checklist might contribute to overcoming drawbacks in national legislation and protection measures, notably by reporting the presence of endangered species in national marine waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bigeyed sixgill shark (Hexanchus nakamurai) is a deepwater cow shark species, native but rare in the Mediterranean Sea. The species commonly is misidentified as its congeneric Hexanchus griseus, a much more abundant species in the basin, creating confusion on the actual distribution and abundance of H. nakamurai in the Mediterranean Sea. In this work, we present the first confirmed record of the bigeyed sixgill shark in the Albanian Sea. The individual was captured off the coast of Himara by a professional fisherman and identified in situ by two researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A thorough search of traditional and digital libraries was conducted for retrieving issues on the interaction of the Greek fisheries with shark species. A significant contribution was made through newspaper collections covering both the Athenian and provincial press including Crete Island for a century (1883–1983). Our historical search showed that large species were common in the Greek Seas, a phenomenon not suspected from datasets of modern fishery surveys. The detection of sharks due to local media gradually increased up to 1969, with most records being more frequent for the Aegean Sea, whereas the number of sharks being sighted declined leading up to the middle of 1980s. The crucial point is that a large number of these observations were related to shark attacks on people, whereas this is not currently evident. The historical records presented here show us that the knowledge of the past can motivate us to identify strategies and policies that can be more acceptable for communities and thus succeed for conservation. The lack of historical data on shark presence, distribution, and status in the Eastern Mediterranean undermines efforts to manage and protect their populations. An exhaustive review of anecdotal references related to shark presence during the early and development phase of Greek fisheries (1883–1983) was conducted. In the early-20th century (1912), the first sighting of the presence of a dead shark was reported in the Ionian Sea. Later on, the presence of sharks gradually increased up to 1969, with most records being more frequent for the Aegean Sea, whereas the number of sharks being sighted declined leading up to the middle of 1980s. The increase in shark attacks during the mid-20th century led to a calling for culling of sharks in co-operation with the competent authorities promoting the permission to hunt sharks with firearms and offering rewards for killed individuals. A high number of these observations potentially resulted from shark attacks on people, whereas this is not currently evident. This is an indicator of the lower abundance of sharks in modern times and subsequently an alteration in the way that our current modern society is approaching the protection of such vulnerable species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sidney J. Holt (1926–2019) was more than a founding father of quantitative fisheries science, and the man who "helped save the great whales." His accomplishments, over a career spanning seven decades, run deeper: he was a champion of reductionism (i.e. able to identify the factors essential for management) and a systemic thinker who inspired scientists to think critically about marine conservation and management. This article draws on first-hand experiences with Sidney over the last 15 years, when he regularly collaborated with scholars of the ICES Working Group on the History of Fish and Fisheries and the Oceans Past Initiative. Four main themes emerged from our reflections on Sidney's life and legacy, which constitute ongoing scientific challenges: (1) the suitability of maximum sustainable yield as a target reference point for fisheries management; (2) the future of marine mammal conservation; (3) successful implementation of ecosystem-based marine management; and (4) the value of historical perspectives for conservation and management. We consider Sidney's work across these themes, in which he readily collaborated, focused on evidence-based solutions, and, where evidence was lacking, he advocated for the "precautionary principle." We posit there is much that we, and future generations of scientists, can learn from his example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two specimens of the diamondback puffer, Lagocephalus guentheri, were caught at the "Ras Alteen" coast East of Libya. This is the first record of the species from the Libyan waters, increasing the number of Lessepsian migrants that belong to the Tetraodontidae family within the Libya up to four species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest threats facing vulnerable marine megafauna is their interaction with fisheries. Numerous studies have typically been confined to single taxa, however, the risk applies mutually to the majority of vulnerable marine megafauna. Using a bottom-up approach to utilize fishers and fisheries stakeholders' knowledge and perceptions of incidental capture for two vulnerable megafauna taxa, sea turtles and sharks, five important ports of Greece accounting 65% of the country's fishing fleet were surveyed. All respondents interacted with at least one of the megafauna species (dolphins, monk seals, sea turtles, elasmobranchs and sea birds), declared that they commonly bycatch them and were well-aware only of sea turtles conservation, knowledge and handling releasing techniques as opposed to sharks. The statements provided by the administration authorities revealed that a great number of employees were familiar with the species under protection, the biodiversity sustainability and the in-force legislation, whereas a vast majority of them were not aware of bycatch incidents, a fact that strongly indicated the lack of mutual communication among professionals and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porbeagle (Lamna nasus) is a species of mackerel shark of the Lamnidae family distributed widely in the cold and temperate waters of the North Atlantic, as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Southern Hemisphere. This species is considered Critically Endangered worldwide and in the Adriatic Sea, the occurrence of this vulnerable species is sporadic. In this work we aim to complement the existing occurrence list of porbeagles in the Adriatic Sea by adding an individual caught near Čiovo Island, the Channel of Split, by a professional fishing vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One specimen of the diamondback puffer, Lagocephalus guentheri (Miranda Riberio, 1915), was recorded along the Turkish coast, off Gökova Bay, through the angling method on 12 June 2017. The morphological features of this species were examined indirectly by image analyses software. This finding also supports the documented occurrence of the diamondback puffer fish along Turkish coasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptula reciprocans was reported in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time back in 1986. Since then there have been numerous reports, following the species' gradual expansion and establishment in the eastern Mediterranean basin. Here we report, by using citizen science methods, from the project titled "Is it Alien to you? Share it" of iSea, the most recent known expansion sites of S. reciprocans, including its new northern-most frontier. Furthermore, the provided photographic evidence testifies for possible interspecies relationships, for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine ecosystems are undergoing major transformations due to the establishment and spread of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS). Some of these organisms have adverse effects, for example by reducing biodiversity and causing ecosystem shifts. Others have upsides, such as benefits to fisheries or replacing lost ecological functions and strengthening biogenic complexity. Stopping the spread of NIS is virtually impossible and so the societal challenge is how to limit the socioeconomic, health, and ecological risks, and sustainably exploit the benefits provided by these organisms. We propose a move away from the notion that NIS have only negative effects, and suggest a turn towards an Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management approach for NIS (EBFM-NIS) in the Mediterranean Sea, the world's most invaded marine region. A structured, iterative, and adaptive framework that considers the range of costs and benefits to ecosystems, ecosystem services, and fisheries is set out to determine whether NIS stocks should be managed using sustainable or unsustainable exploitation. We propose fishery reforms such as multiannual plans, annual catch limits, technical measures for sustainable exploitation, and legitimization of unlimited fishing of selected NIS and introduction of a radical new license for NIS fishing for unsustainable exploitation. Depending on local conditions, investment strategies can be included within the EBFM-NIS framework to protect/enhance natural assets to improve ecosystem resilience against NIS, as well as fishery assets to improve the performance of NIS fisheries. Examples of the former include the enhancement of Marine Protected Areas, harvesting of invasive NIS within MPAs, and protection of overfished predators and key species. Examples of the latter include market promotion and valorisation of NIS products, development of novel NIS products, and innovative/alternative NIS fishing such as fishery-related tourism ('pescatourism'). The application of the suggested EBFM-NIS would create jobs, protect and enhance ecosystem services, and help to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. • Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) are reshaping Mediterranean marine ecosystems. • Fisheries need to adapt to limit socioeconomic and ecological losses. • Exploitation strategy of each NIS should be based on a cost-benefit analysis. • Policy reforms are proposed for sustainable or unsustainable exploitation strategy. • Investment in natural capital assets and fishery assets is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine megafauna has always elicited contrasting feelings. In the past, large marine animals were often depicted as fantastic mythological creatures and dangerous monsters, while also arousing human curiosity. Marine megafauna has been a valuable resource to exploit, leading to the collapse of populations and local extinctions. In addition, some species have been perceived as competitors of fishers for marine resources and were often actively culled. Since the 1970s, there has been a change in the perception and use of megafauna. The growth of marine tourism, increasingly oriented towards the observation of wildlife, has driven a shift from extractive to non-extractive use, supporting the conservation of at least some species of marine megafauna. In this paper, we review and compare the changes in the perception and use of three megafaunal groups, cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers, with a special focus on European cultures. We highlight the main drivers and the timing of these changes, compare different taxonomic groups and species, and highlight the implications for management and conservation. One of the main drivers of the shift in perception, shared by all the three groups of megafauna, has been a general increase in curiosity towards wildlife, stimulated inter alia by documentaries (from the early 1970s onwards), and also promoted by easy access to scuba diving. At the same time, environmental campaigns have been developed to raise public awareness regarding marine wildlife, especially cetaceans, a process greatly facilitated by the rise of Internet and the World Wide Web. Currently, all the three groups (cetaceans, elasmobranchs and groupers) may represent valuable resources for ecotourism. Strikingly, the economic value of live specimens may exceed their value for human consumption. A further change in perception involving all the three groups is related to a growing understanding and appreciation of their key ecological role. The shift from extractive to non-extractive use has the potential for promoting species conservation and local economic growth. However, the change in use may not benefit the original stakeholders (e.g. fishers or whalers) and there may therefore be a case for providing compensation for disadvantaged stakeholders. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that even non-extractive use may have a negative impact on marine megafauna, therefore regulations are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]