The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is urging Greek consumers to incorporate additional invasive species into their diets, arguing that this could help mitigate the ecological threat these non-native fish pose to the Aegean Sea.
“A new reality has emerged in the market, particularly in Southern Greece and the Dodecanese islands, where non-native species are increasingly prevalent,” said Panagiota Stappa, an associate with the WWF marine program. “Over time, we expect to see an even greater variety of these species appearing on the market,” she told AFP.
Greek consumers unfamiliar with invasive fish
Greek fishermen are eager to sell these fish, which are currently discarded as bycatch because consumers are unfamiliar with them, explained Michalis Margaritis, the WWF’s field fishery manager.
He highlighted an instance on one Greek island where 400 kilograms (881 pounds) of spinefoot (Siganus luridus) were simply thrown away. Despite being notoriously destructive to the seabed, the spinefoot is “incredibly rich” in fish oil and “very tasty,” according to Margaritis.
However, consumer hesitation remains a significant barrier. “People avoid non-native species because they are intimidated by them,” chef Giorgos Tsoulis told AFP. “I believe it will take many years to change these habits.”
Seafood guide
To address this, the WWF unveiled a revised version of its “Responsible Seafood Guide.”
The updated guide now includes thirteen invasive species that were absent from the 2015 edition. Among the invaders now encroaching on local waters are the Atlantic shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the northern Aegean, as well as the venomous lionfish (Pterois miles) in the south. In some regions, such as Rhodes, three invasive mullet species are actively crowding out the native red mullet.
“Many people may already be eating non-native species without realizing it,” Margaritis added.
Related: Marine Heatwaves Bring Threatening Invasive Fish to Greece
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