Monitoring bioinvasions : a collaborative effort with the fishing community

Abstract

Non-native fish species are increasing in the Mediterranean Sea threatening native biodiversity as they grow in abundance. Closer monitoring of coastal habitats and biodiversity towards achieving timely assessment and management is essential. For many years the Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Malta (CBRG-UoM) has involved various types of fishermen in research and awareness through active collaboration while recording recreational or commercial fisheries catches of marine species, including alien species.