FISH INVASION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN- RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE

The rate of fish invasion into the Mediterranean has continued without showing any sign of deceleration. Since the publication of the CIESM Exotic Fish Atlas in 2002, 18 new exotic fish species have been recorded and many species have extended their distribution range. Two distinct periods (1977-1982 and 2000-2005) of population explosion were documented for nine cases of invasive fish species just following initiation of invasion. In light of the supposition that the rate of invasion will continue steadily, it is suggested that future research should concentrate on comparative studies of the ecology and life history strategies of the invasive species and their closely related Mediterranean indigenous species as well as application of population dynamics and genetics