Many Non-Indigenous Species are now present in the Mediterranean Sea, a situation exacerbated by climate change and the intensification of human activities (maritime transport, recreational boating, coastal infrastructures).

While all these species require close monitoring, the ALIEN-OCCICAT project focuses here on a selection of species recently discovered along our coasts or already considered invasive. The goal is to better understand their distribution and abundance levels.

These target species were specifically chosen for their accessibility during dive observations and because they allow for reliable visual identification with high confidence. For each of them, a descriptive fact sheet is available (or in progress) to provide you with all the keys to recognize them in the field and better understand their history.

List of monitored Non-Indigenous Species

  • Besides the coastal zone, this species can also be found in lagoons.

  • Aplysia dactylomela
    Aplysia dactylomela

    Spotted sea hare

  • Asparagopsis sp
    Asparagopsis spp.

    Asparagopsis seaweed

  • Callinectes sapidus
    Callinectes sapidus

    Blue crab

  • Caulerpa cylindracea
    Caulerpa cylindracea

    Grape alga

  • Caulerpa taxifolia
    Caulerpa taxifolia

    Taxifolia sea grape

  • Crepidula fornicata
    Crepidula fornicata

    Slipper limpet

  • Farfantepenaeus aztecus
    Farfantepenaeus aztecus

    Brown shrimp

  • Fistularia commersonii
    Fistularia commersonii

    Bluespotted cornetfish

  • Lagocephalus sceleratus
    Lagocephalus sceleratus

    Silverstriped pufferfish

  • Mnemiopsis leidyi

    Warty comb jelly

  • Parablennius pilicornis

    Ringneck blenny

  • Pterois miles
    Pterois miles

    Lionfish

  • Rapana venosa

    Rapa whelk

  • Rugulopteryx okamurae
    Rugulopteryx okamurae

    Northwest Pacific brown alga

  • Siganus_luridus
    Siganus luridus

    Dusky spinefoot

  • Styela clava
    Styela clava

    Japanese sea squirt

  • Valonia aegagropila

    Valonia bubble algae

  • Womersleyella setacea
    Womersleyella setacea

    Womersley’s red algae

Ascidiella aspersa
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