Posted: March 5th, 2024

Evaluating the impacts of ballast water discharge on invasive lionfish populations in the Red Sea and developing mitigation measures

Evaluating the impacts of ballast water discharge on invasive lionfish populations in the Red Sea and developing mitigation measures

Ballast water is water that is taken on board by ships to maintain stability and balance. It is often discharged at the destination port, where it can introduce non-native species that may become invasive and harm the local ecosystems. One such species is the red lionfish (Pterois volitans), a venomous fish native to the Indo-Pacific region that has invaded the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea since the 1980s. The red lionfish is a voracious predator that feeds on a variety of fish and invertebrates, reducing their abundance and diversity. It also competes with native predators and has few natural enemies in its invaded range. The red lionfish poses a threat to the biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and human health of the regions it invades.

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The Red Sea is one of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems in the world, hosting over 1200 species of fish and 250 species of coral. It is also an important economic resource for the countries bordering it, providing food, income, and recreation. However, the Red Sea is vulnerable to invasion by the red lionfish, which could disrupt its ecological balance and reduce its value. The main pathway for the introduction of the red lionfish to the Red Sea is through ballast water discharge by ships coming from colonized areas in the Atlantic Ocean. A study by MacIsaac et al. (2016) documented 27 commercial vessel-trips in which ballast water was loaded in colonized sites and later discharged untreated into Pacific coast ports in the USA, where the probability of lionfish establishment is low to medium. However, the probability of lionfish establishment is medium to high for mainland Ecuador, and very high for western Mexico, Peru and the Galapagos Islands. If these regions are colonized by the red lionfish, they could serve as stepping stones for further invasion into the Red Sea via ballast water transfer.

Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the impacts of ballast water discharge on invasive lionfish populations in the Red Sea and develop mitigation measures to prevent or reduce their spread. The main objectives of this research essay are:

- To estimate the current and potential distribution of red lionfish in the Red Sea using species distribution models based on environmental variables and occurrence data.
- To assess the ecological impacts of red lionfish on native fish and invertebrate communities in the Red Sea using field surveys and experiments.
- To evaluate the socio-economic impacts of red lionfish on fisheries, tourism, and human health in the Red Sea using interviews, questionnaires, and cost-benefit analysis.
- To propose management strategies to prevent or control red lionfish invasion in the Red Sea using risk assessment, ballast water management, early detection and rapid response, removal efforts, public awareness, and stakeholder involvement.

This research essay will contribute to the scientific knowledge on invasive species biology and management, as well as provide practical recommendations for policy makers, managers, and stakeholders to protect the Red Sea from one of the most harmful marine invaders in history.

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References:

MacIsaac HJ, De Roy EM, Leung B, Grgicak-Mannion A, Ruiz GM (2016) Possible Ballast Water Transfer of Lionfish to the Eastern Pacific Ocean. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0165584. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165584

Medium (2023) Invasive Intruder: The Red Lionfish’s Global Impact on Marine Ecosystems. https://medium.com/@anuamith96/invasive-intruder-the-red-lionfishs-global-impact-on-marine-ecosystems-dac888124d7d

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The Guardian (2021) ‘I’ve seen 40 on one dive’: invasive lionfish threatens ecosystems in the Med. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/22/lionfish-threatens-ecosystems-in-the-med

NOAA Fisheries (n.d.) Impacts of Invasive Lionfish. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/ecosystems/impacts-invasive-lionfish

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