Abstract
Greek waters are the recipient of several alien species, mainly through natural dispersal following invasion and establishment of non-indigenous species (NIS) in neighboring areas, making their monitoring and mitigating their effects of paramount importance. The European Union legislation framework toward alien species invasions considers risk assessments as the top of the spear for a first assessment of NIS and their potential to become invasive or not. The Union List has already included top priority species, with very few marine species. Golani’s round herring (Etrumeus golanii) is a species of round herrings in the family Dussumieriidae, a Lessepsian migrant and belonging to a group of NIS in the Mediterranean basin that are less studied. Its distribution range is mainly limited in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea, while in the Greek seas, it has not yet been observed in the north Aegean and Ionian seas, probably due to temperature and oceanographical reasons. Its presence in the basin is recorded by commercial fisheries landings in several countries (especially purse-seiners), indicating a potentially positive effect on commercial fisheries. A risk assessment of E. golanii in Greek waters was carried out in this work, based on the Risk Assessment Scheme developed by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (GB Non-Native Risk Assessment—GBNNRA). An overall semi-quantitative summary of risk, in terms of likelihood of events and magnitude of impacts, was facilitated for several attributors, including confidence levels for each one. The assessment highlighted a very likely possibility of introduction in the Greek seas from neighboring countries, as well as successful establishments of populations with high confidence levels. A moderate magnitude of impact regarding its further spread was deemed, while a minor one was indicated in terms of native species pressure and a minimal one in terms of economic costs and public health. Overall, E. golanii was not characterized as an invasive alien species (IAS) and local communities could benefit from its presence (commercial fisheries); however, further studies focusing on its reproduction and spawning grounds should be implemented.
1 Introduction
The Mediterranean Sea is under threat from many anthropogenic pressures with significant impacts on its diversified ecosystems and their biodiversity (). The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) and especially of invasive alien species (IAS), which are harmful ecologically and socio-economically, is considered to be listed high among the most important threats in the basin (). The high dispersal rate of NIS in the Mediterranean has been accelerated by the rapid development of technology, especially in the last decades, the intense exploitation of natural resources, and globalization (; ). Thus, many species have the potential to move beyond their distribution limits and establish successful populations in their non-native habitats (). The Mediterranean Sea is considered to be the most invaded marine region in the world with more than 1,000 validated NIS, most of which are regarded established (759) rather than casual (; ). The eastern part of the basin is particularly vulnerable to alien species’ introduction due to its proximity to the Suez Canal, the latter being a significant pathway for NIS (). Many scientific projects regarding alien species mitigation measures have been implemented in the Mediterranean Sea, incorporating citizen science as a useful tool in a wide extent, from new species detections and monitoring to complete surveys and management initiatives (; ; ). Greek waters, and especially the Aegean Sea, are the recipient of many NIS that can later spread out in other parts of the basin. An informative and collaborative network has been established in Greece, namely, the Ellenic Network of Aquatic Invasive Species (ELNAIS), aiming to collect and report spatial data on NIS in the Greek seas (), which, alongside the recent rise of projects considering citizen science in Greece (; ), is the first line of defense towards IAS management and mitigation. Taking into account the difficulties of monitoring and numbering NIS, the latest update estimates the existence of 242 NIS and 64 cryptogenic species in Greek waters, with the Aegean Sea having the lion’s share compared to the Ionian Sea ().
The European Union, following globally mandated approaches for NIS and IAS management, has established a legislation framework (EU Regulation No 1143/2014; ), aimed at preventing and managing the introduction and spread of IAS. With numerous invasive species being confirmed in the Mediterranean Sea, as a rule of thumb, the regulation prioritizes its measures towards IAS that are considered of major biological, ecological, socio-economic, and human-health concerns. As general provisions, the regulation provides some steps towards NIS management, including identification, prevention, detection, and eradication. For IAS to be considered of EU concern, they must meet three criteria, which are provided from the results of research works and project implementations: (1) the name of the studied species, (2) a complete and thorough risk assessment, and (3) scientific evidence of IAS origins, population establishment, and impact on the native environment. Many Mediterranean IAS are right now in the “Union List” with the implementation of successful risk assessments. According to the EU Regulation No. 1143/2014 (), a risk assessment is considered successful when it satisfies eight descriptors related to (1) identity, (2) reproduction, (3) introduction, (4) establishment and spread, (5) presence in neighboring countries, (6) adverse impact on biodiversity, (7) costs of damage, and (8) potential social and economic exploitation. In the Mediterranean Sea, risk assessments that mainly concern fish IAS are available in the literature, including Plotosus lineatus (), Pterois miles (; ), Siganus rivulatus (), Siganus luridus (), and Lagocephalus sceleratus (; ). These species have well-established populations in the Greek waters, having great impacts on ecosystems, native species, and fisheries ().
Etrumeus golanii () is a species of round herring belonging to the family Dussumieriidae, a Lessepsian migrant in the Mediterranean Sea and the only one recorded from this family in Greek waters (Figure 1). The species can be easily misidentified with similar pelagic species of high commercial interest, like the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus). However, it can be distinguished from other Mediterranean species of the order Clupeiformes, due to its smooth abdomen and the position of the pelvic fin, which is behind the dorsal (). Its native range is the western Indian Ocean up to the northern Red Sea, while more specifically native populations of the species can be found in Egypt (), Eritrea (), Israel (), and Saudi Arabia (). In 2019, a risk assessment for Lessepsian migrants entering the basin from the Suez Canal was carried out on the southwest coast of Turkey, including E. golanii (). The assessment highlighted that the species was not an IAS and the possibility of its introduction, establishment, and spread was characterized as moderate risk (). The results of this study might be indicative of the species in eastern Mediterranean Sea; however, the assessment was not species-specific. Recently, a scientific project with the acronym 4ALIEN (www.4alien.gr) was carried out in the Greek seas, aiming to study the biology, ecology, and potential exploitation of four IAS, including E. golanii. Moreover, in the frame of the project, risk assessments, habitat mappings, and potential exploitation analyses were also conducted.
Figure 1
The aims of the present work are to (1) present part of the results of the 4ALIEN project, focusing on the biology and economic exploitation prospects of E. golanii from the Greek seas; (2) provide a complete risk assessment of E. golanii, a comparatively less-studied NIS in the Mediterranean Sea; and (3) focus on the commercial benefits of exploiting this species that could be helpful in mitigating the effects of NIS invasions in the basin.
2 Invasive history of Etrumeus golanii in the Mediterranean Sea and species characteristics
Etrumeus golanii is a Lessepsian migrant, native to the western Indian Ocean and most common in the Red Sea (
Figure 2

Map of the Mediterranean Sea depicting the distribution of Etrumeus golanii in chronological order; 1: Lebanon in 1931 (
Regarding EU member states, it has been recorded in Cyprus (
Figure 3

Distribution of Etrumeus golanii in Greek waters. Red dots indicate sporadic observations, whereas blue dots indicate established populations (modified from
3 Materials and methods
This research utilized the risk assessment protocol derived from the EU commissioned program ENV.B2.ETU/2016/0013 (
4 Risk assessment results and detailed evaluation of E. golanii in the Greek seas
4.1 Risk of introduction and associate pathways
The main introduction pathway of E. golanii in the Mediterranean Sea is through the Suez Canal, while the main countries in which the species has invaded are the southeastern Mediterranean countries (
Table 1
| (1) Introduction | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pathway of introduction | Likelihood of event | Confidence level |
| Corridor (Suez Canal) | Likely | Medium |
| Unaided (neighboring countries) | Very likely | High |
| Aquaria | Unlikely | Low |
| (2) Establishment and (3) spread | ||
| Sub-region | Likelihood of event | Confidence level |
| Southeastern Aegean Sea-Cretan Sea | Very likely | High |
| North Aegean Sea | Possible | Medium |
| Ionian Sea | Unlikely | Low |
| Attributes of establishment and spread | Likelihood of event | Confidence level |
| Climate conditions | Likely | Medium |
| Abiotic parameters | Possible | Medium |
| Habitat suitability | Possible | Low |
| Species competition | Very likely | Medium |
| Predation and parasites | Likely | Medium |
| Adaptability | Likely | Medium |
| Reproduction characteristics | Likely | Low |
| Genetic diversity | Likely | High |
| Natural dispersal | Likely | Medium |
| Human intervention | Unlikely | High |
| Management practices | Very Likely | High |
Risk assessment summary results of E. golanii in the Greek seas regarding introduction, establishment, and spread, according to the likelihood of event and the corresponding confidence level.
Based on its distribution history in the Mediterranean and while knowing the invasion of the species and its characteristics, the chances of new invasions in Greek waters going unnoticed are reduced. At present, early detection systems operate through formal and informal networks of expert scientists and local stakeholders and through official competent bodies (e.g., ELNAIS). Since the first record of the species in the basin occurred in Lebanon in 1931 (
4.2 Risk of establishment
Etrumeus golanii has already established populations in Greece, mainly in central and southeastern Aegean regions (Dodecanese Islands, Cyclades Islands, Crete) and its range of distribution seems to be constantly increasing. Temperature conditions seem to contribute and favor this pattern (
Regarding genetic analyses, a study has been implemented in three different populations of E. golanii in Turkey, with the results demonstrating high genetic diversity, both within the populations and among them, based on haplotype diversity values (
4.3 Risk of spread
Etrumeus golanii has established populations in Crete, the Dodecanese islands, and the Cyclades Islands where the coastal zone is relatively small (
Regarding species competition, the spread of E. golanii was deemed as very likely due to low pressure on other species for food resources (
Etrumeus golanii’s characteristics and reproduction period (
4.4 Magnitude of impacts
Since its detection in the Mediterranean Sea, E. golanii has spread gradually in the southern Mediterranean, forming local populations and constituting an important part of fish fauna, which is also reflected in the commercial fisheries catches of Libya, Egypt, and Turkey (
Table 2
| Environmental | Current | Future | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sc | Cl | Sc | Cl | |
| Biodiversity | ||||
| Predation (crustacea, fish, mollusks, worms) | Moderate | Low | Major | Low |
| Competition for food and shelter | Minor | Low | Moderate | Low |
| Competition with native species | Minimal | Low | Minor | Low |
| Ecosystem services | ||||
| Ecosystem functioning | Moderate | Medium | Minor | Medium |
| Conservation value | ||||
| Soft sediment and hard habitats | Minor | Low | Moderate | Low |
| Seagrass and algal beds | Minor | Low | Moderate | Low |
| Socio-economic | Current | Future | ||
| Sc | Cl | Sc | Cl | |
| Economic impacts | ||||
| High discard rates (increase sorting time) | Moderate | Low | Minor | Low |
| Fishermen change place and time of fishing | Moderate | Low | Minor | Low |
| Damage of fishing gear | Minimal | Low | Minimal | Low |
| Social and human health impacts | ||||
| Injuries to fishermen and beach-goers | Minimal | High | Minimal | High |
| Secondary infections | Minimal | High | Minimal | High |
Magnitude of impacts of E. golanii in the Greek seas in environmental and socio-economic attributes, regarding their score (Sc) and corresponding confidence levels (Cl) for current and future state.
Etrumeus species are of high economic importance in the Red Sea, contributing up to 11.5% of the region’s total purse-seiners production (
Coastal marine substrates with vegetation used as spawning habitats by E. golanii (mainly Posidonia oceanica) in the Mediterranean sublittoral zone are considered vulnerable (
Economic costs or losses are associated with impacts on commercial and recreational fisheries in terms of damage to fishing gear, increased labor demand, and predation of commercial fisheries target species (
Regarding public health, E. golanii does not appear to have a negative impact, as it is very small, is not aggressive, and does not carry poisonous substances or sharp spines like other alien species (e.g., Lagocephalus sceleratus and Pterois miles), which could impact human health. Although species of the genus Etrumeus have been recorded to be predated by larger pelagic species and dolphins, no official cases of predation of E. golanii have been recorded yet. However, and in any case, they are not a major component of their diet and are therefore not likely to exert a strong pressure on them. Regarding the parasites that have been identified in E. golanii, they do not seem to be a limiting factor for the growth of its population (
5 Conclusions
Etrumeus golanii has entered in the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, a pathway that is still active and will likely provide opportunities for new introduction events. In the Greek seas, a natural spread through neighboring countries has resulted in successfully established populations in the central and southeastern Aegean territories. It is likely that, in the future, it will be introduced in other Greek marine areas that it has been absent until now; however, it seems not to spread rapidly towards the northern Aegean and Ionian Sea due to environmental constraints such as temperature. Etrumeus golanii is a pelagic species with a long reproductive season, short and frequent recruitment periods, and high adaptability. These characteristics, alongside with the current environmental conditions, have allowed its gradual spread in the Mediterranean Sea. In the southeastern Aegean, E. golanii has established itself forming local populations, as shown by commercial fisheries catches, without having estimated the exact abundance of the species. It is relatively small in size and feeds on animal organisms such as small crustaceans, without exerting competitive pressure on native species. Finally, it does not seem to have a negative impact on fish stocks and public health; thus, it is not classified as invasive by this assessment.
Statements
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Author contributions
IK collected the data, performed the risk assessment and wrote the manuscript. PK conceived the study. AT, AZ, and PK reviewed the manuscript. AT and PK supervised the manuscript and acquired funding. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
The present work was supported by the NSRF 2014–2020 funded project “4ALIEN: Biology and the potential economic exploitation of four alien species in the Hellenic Seas”, grant number MIS: 5049511, focusing on the biology and ecology of four alien fish species and the effects of their expansion on fisheries, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1220318/full#supplementary-material
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Summary
Keywords
risk assessment, Etrumeus golanii, alien species, Mediterranean Sea, Greek seas
Citation
Keramidas I, Tsikliras AC, Zenetos A and Karachle PK (2023) Risk assessment of Golani’s round herring (Etrumeus golanii) in the Greek seas (northeastern Mediterranean Sea). Front. Mar. Sci. 10:1220318. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1220318
Received
10 May 2023
Accepted
31 July 2023
Published
21 August 2023
Volume
10 - 2023
Edited by
Lorenzo Mari, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy
Reviewed by
Francesco Tiralongo, University of Catania, Italy; Maria Flavia Gravina, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy
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© 2023 Keramidas, Tsikliras, Zenetos and Karachle.
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*Correspondence: Ioannis Keramidas, keraioan@bio.auth.gr
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