DEVELOPMENT OF BEST CONTROL PRACTICES FOR FOREIGN KIDS IN THE MARINE AQUACULTURE FACILITIES AND MEDIATION OF ECONOMICS AND ECONOMICS
Funding: FISHERIES & MARINE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM 2014 - 2020 - MIS 5048463, "Protection and restoration of marine biodiversity and ecosystems and compensation schemes in the context of sustainable fishing activities and activities in other ecosystem services, such as the restoration of specific marine and coastal habitats to support sustainable fish stocks, including their scientific preparation and assessment - Occupying Aliens »ARTICLE 40 para. 1 point i, Reg. (EU) 508/2014 Sci. Responsible: Theodorou Ioannis, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Production, Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Patras
Ascidians are one of the most important biofoulants in man-made plants (Aldred & Clare, 2014) which also act as artificial sea reefs. Particularly in aquaculture they create additional problems as they become the predominant survival group (Fitridge et al., 2012). At the same time ascidians are known for their intense spatial invasive action (Lambert, 2007). These two actions are interrelated, as artificial installations favor and promote the spread of spatial invasions (Simkanin et al., 2012; Airoldi et al., 2015; Lopez-Legentil et al., 2015), thus constituting one of the the main introduction paths of non-native species (Naylor et al., 2001). The bioaccumulation of ash is often responsible for the mass growth of certain species causing harmful effects on anthropogenic plants (eg floating platforms, aquaculture piers), with both economic and ecological negative effects (Carver et al., 2003, Blum et al. , 2007, Lutz-Collins et al. 2009; Ondonez 2013a; b). Conversely, a number of measures are applied to mitigate the effects on aquaculture which may increase production costs to the final product price of 5-10% for fish farms, and 20-30% for shellfish (Fitridge et al. , 2012). 75 species of urchins are recorded in the Greek seas (Antoniadou et al. 2016) and the composition of the species mainly concerns invasive species (Atlantic-Mediterranean origin 44.4%) while the natives concern 40.3% (Koukouras et al. 1995) . This ratio is modified in favor of invaders as new recordings of their Indian origin (via Souez) come to light (Antoniadou et al. 2016; Zanetou et al., 2017). Other information is limited and relates to fauna lists or publications of primarily ecological interest (Koukouras et al. 1995; Morri et al. 1999; Antoniadou et al. 2006; Antoniadou et al. 2013; Sini et al. 2014), (Panagiotou et al. 2007; Panagiotou et al. 2008; Vafidis et al. 2008), breeding (Panagiotou et al. 2008; Vafidis et al. 2008), fishing (Antoniadou and Vafidis 2008), or interactions with other invertebrates ( Voultsiadou et al. 2007; Voultsiadou et al. 2010). Several of them such as Clavelina spp. are recorded in the ELNAIS network https://elnais.hcmr.gr/elnais-database-2/) as marine cryptogenic species (they are in the Greek territory but their origin and origin are unknown). The outbreak of populations during their hosting in the facilities of mussel farms, creates a series of management problems during the breeding and sorting of farmed products (Theodorou et al., 2019).
In Greece, offshore fish farming is an important productive activity consisting of more than 350 parks for breeding Mediterranean fish species which is distributed from Etoloakarnania (Echinades Islands), Amvrakikos to Thesprotia west, Eorgolikos, North Corinth, Corinth Pagasitiko, in Kefalonia and in islands of the Eastern Aegean with a total productivity of more than 110Mt (SETH, 2015). Respectively important is the mussel cultivation with more than 500 breeding facilities in areas of activity such as Thermaikos, Maliakos, Saronic, Strimonikos, Vistonikos, Amvrakikos and Sagiada Strip with a total productivity of about 40,000 tons (Theodorou et al., 2015). These structures are substrates for the establishment of various survivors including the ascidians (Fitridge et al., 2012), creating functional problems in production, the role of which as ecological substrates is not known. On the other hand, in the management of the units are included actions of mitigation of the effects of the survivors. In fish farms the deposition of survivors in breeding nets is treated en masse by soaking the nets in anti-fouling, by frequent replacement and washing of the nets or by a combination of both methods. For mussel farms, however, since the farmed organism itself is a substrate for the survival of the survivors (Figure 1), the treatment involves various actions of exposing the mass of cultivated species and survivors such as exposure to air, washing under pressure, use of chemicals. These actions are related to the different resistance of survivors and the cultivated species (Theodorou et al., 2019) or to actions to reduce the likelihood of settlement (eg change of breeding depth where the abundance of pelagic forms of survivors is small) (Fitridge et al., 2012). The questions posed in this proposal, given that skewers are the main survivors of shellfish farms in combination with the high number of invasive species of skewers in Greece are:
What is the ecological role of mussel farms in the installation of foreign species of ascidians?
To what extent do the management actions taken to reduce the economic impact assist in the control (prevention, control or eradication) of populations of foreign species of idiots?
Are there win-win management practices that combine reducing the economic impact on the units with increasing the level of control of the alien species?
The purpose of this proposal is to answer the above questions through the implementation of the proposal in distinct Work Packages (PE)
WP1: Mapping of invasive non-endemic ascetics
WP2: Actions to analyze the impact of urchins on mussel well-being and to take measures to mitigate the spread
WP3: Final Report-Dissemination and Publicity Activities
What is the ecological role of mussel farms in the installation of foreign species of ascidians?
To what extent do the management actions taken to reduce the economic impact assist in the control (prevention, control or eradication) of populations of foreign species of idiots?
Are there win-win management practices that combine reducing the economic impact on the units with increasing the level of control of the alien species?
The purpose of this proposal is to answer the above questions through the implementation of the proposal in distinct Work Packages (PE)
WP1: Mapping of invasive non-endemic ascetics
WP2: Actions to analyze the impact of urchins on mussel well-being and to take measures to mitigate the spread
WP3: Final Report-Dissemination and Publicity Activities
Ascidians - Invasive Species in the Mediterranean
DEVELOPMENT OF BEST CONTROL PRACTICES FOR FOREIGN KIDS IN THE MARINE AQUACULTURE FACILITIES AND MEDIATION OF ECONOMICS AND ECONOMICS
Special Account for Research Funds University of Patras
Special Account for Research Funds of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
