The arrival and expansion of non-native fauna and flora has set off alarm bells on the coast, where the invasive species in the Spanish Mediterranean compromise the balance of ecosystems and the provision of environmental services.
To better understand its presence and possible impacts, a team from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) has developed several field campaigns in the ports of Malaga and Palma, as well as in sensitive areas of the Balearic archipelago, with a specific sampling plan and standardized methodology.
What the IEO-CSIC has investigated
The project has focused its efforts on detect and monitor allochthonous species, continuing an international monitoring program that integrates science and port management to minimize risks.
Throughout the year, the following have been carried out: three oceanographic campaigns aboard the B/O Francisco de Paula Navarro and the oceanographic catamaran SOCIB, evaluating five areas per locality in two key windows, between May-June and September, when the probability of detection is highest.
How the sampling was carried out
In port facilities, considered areas of high risk of introduction, water, plankton and sediment samples were taken, along with benthic organisms attached to artificial substrates, and visual censuses were carried out on breakwaters.
To evaluate the colonization of organisms, settlement plates were installed for approximately three months, allowing for early detection of the arrival of non-native species and monitoring their establishment.
En protected or sensitive areas Non-invasive sampling was applied in Posidonia backgrounds, rock and sand, accompanied by larval collection devices to capture information on early stages capable of attaching to artificial structures.
The approach was clearly multidisciplinary, combining morphological studies, measurement of physical parameters and analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) to refine identification and temporal tracking.
According to the team, this surveillance system facilitates the early detection, tracking expansion, predicting potential impacts, and evaluating response strategies at points of entry.
Ports, vectors and management
This monitoring is aligned with the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization and with the European regulations that promote the control and management of ballast water, in addition to other measures to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.
The initiative links with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the EU regulation on invasive species, bringing scientific work closer to decision-making and daily management in ports.
Areas and zones of study
The surveys covered the ports of Malaga and Palma and marine protected areas of the Balearic Islands, such as the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park and the Marine Reserves of Badia de Palma and des Vedrà -Vedranell.
In addition to systematic data collection, operations were supported by the B/O Francisco de Paula Navarro and the SOCIB catamaran, which provided logistical and technical capacity for repeated sampling during key periods.
Project financing and framework
The set of activities is integrated into ESMARES 3, funded by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge to implement the monitoring of Marine Strategies in Spain through the IEO.
The European Union co-finances through the European Maritime Fund for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EMFFA), within priority 4, with the aim of strengthening international governance and moving towards protected, safe, clean and sustainably managed seas.
With this roadmap, the IEO-CSIC strengthens surveillance at critical points, combines traditional sampling with eDNA and coordinates scientific and regulatory action to anticipate the arrival and spread of exotic species on the coast.
The continuity of the program and its international standard allow for comparing time series, optimizing detection in the most favorable periods and guide preventive measures and response both in ports and in areas of high ecological value.
The drive of these campaigns in the Spanish Mediterranean leaves a clear idea: monitoring, managing entry routes and acting on a scientific basis is key to protecting the biodiversity and the proper functioning of ecosystems.
