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    Strengthening Angel Shark Conservation in the Northeastern Mediterranean Sea
    (Mdpi, 2022) Giovos, Ioannis; Katsada, Dimitra; Spyridopoulou, Roxani Naasan Aga; Poursanidis, Dimitrios; Doxa, Aggeliki; Katsanevakis, Stelios; Kleitou, Periklis
    Angel sharks are among the most threatened species of sharks globally. Twenty-two species have been identified globally so far, with three species being present in the Mediterranean Sea: Squatina aculeata, Squatina oculata, and Squatina squatina. The Mediterranean populations of all three species have been assessed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the steep decline of their populations as a result of their historical and current overexploitation by demersal fisheries. Therefore, currently there is an ongoing increasing effort for advancing the conservation of the species in the basin. Recently, in the context of the Regional Action Plan for Mediterranean Angel Sharks, the Aegean Sea and Crete have been identified as critical areas for all three species. This study provides the first predictive distribution map of the three angel shark species in the basin, while critical areas for the conservation of the species were identified through a systematic spatial conservation planning analysis. Our analysis revealed low overlapping between the existing MPA network and critical areas for the distribution of the species primarily in Greece and then Turkey, while 20% of the critical areas for the distribution of the species overlaps with Fisheries Restricted Areas of the region. This highlights the need for creating MPAs focusing on shark conservation within the Mediterranean that are currently completely absent. In addition, we provide policy recommendations that can secure better protection of angel sharks through the enforcement of the current legislations and the engagement of all relevant stakeholders.
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    The lionfish expansion in the Aegean Sea in Turkey: A looming potential ecological disaster
    (Elsevier, 2020) Ulman, Aylin; Tuncer, Sezginer; Kizilkaya, Inci Tuney; Zilifli, Aytug; Alford, Polly; Giovos, Ioannis
    The lionfish invasion in the Western Atlantic is understood to be one of the worst marine invasions in history, and they have recently just invaded the Mediterranean. Lionfish are a marine `pest' species in invaded areas, mostly due to their venomous spines combined with their insatiable appetites. The devil firefish's (Pterois miles) Mediterranean invasion began in 2012 in Lebanon and has since been rapidly spreading westwards. They are now found along Turkey's entire southern coastline, first reported in Iskenderun Bay in 2015, and are now expanding into the Aegean Sea. New records here are presented for Turkey; in May 2019, two lionfish specimens (Pterois miles, [Bennet, 1828]) were caught in Bodrum, Turkey (Aegean Sea), and just one month later, they were found in Seferhisar (Izmir province), about 100 nautical miles north of Bodrum, now the most northern record for Turkey. They were already reported in the Greek Dodecanese Islands (situated between these two sites), showing their establishment in the area and the necessity for scientists from different countries to work together on accurate assessments. While a second lionfish species, Pterois volitans has recently been reported in Turkey, newer research has shown that P. volitans found in the invaded Caribbean region, is a hybrid species between P. miles and a Pacific lineage encompassing Pterois lunulata/russelii. Thus, in light of this new research, P. volitans should not be confirmed in the Mediterranean from morphological characters alone, which are highly variable, and genetic testing is required to decipher its identity. Along with these new records highlighting the recent expansion of the invaded range, lessons learned from the Caribbean invasion are provided to help prepare Mediterranean scientists and officials to better tackle this invasion. Two control methods are discussed to help reduce populations by getting them from the sea to plates: fishing and culling along with an introduction to local cuisines. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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    Understanding the public attitude towards sharks for improving their conservation
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Giovos, Ioannis; Barash, Adi; Barone, Monica; Borme, Diego; Tunçer, Sezginer
    Sharks are among the oldest residents of the planet, they possess a unique value as top predators and constitute irreplaceable elements of marine ecosystems. Unfortunately, contemporary narratives widely presented in popular mainstream media have attached an utterly negative connotation to sharks, propagating an unsubstantiated and fabricated image of them as implacable and voracious predators. Recently a lot of attention is devoted to understanding the public perception towards sharks in order to promote their conservation given that a quarter of all shark species are facing extinction. This work assessed the current attitude of the public towards sharks on a global scale, utilizing modern technology through a single protocol that explored the importance of factors like culture, history, or educational level in shaping attitudes. We collected 13,800 questionnaires from 137 countries, with 25 countries presenting more than 100 answers each, representing in total 92% of the filled questionnaires. A generally positive attitude towards sharks emerged from our study, influenced significantly by several factors including knowledge and participation in marine conservation projects. Interestingly, shark attacks emerged as an important factor, with countries having high numbers of shark attacks exhibiting a highly positive attitude towards sharks, potentially because their citizens are more aware of the issue and the importance of sharks for the marine ecosystems. Guidelines for shifting public attitude towards sharks and consequently advancing shark conservation were also drawn.