The following report on a conference held in Monaco this month appeared in the Haniotika Nea on 16th October.

The rapid increase in the population of lionfish in the waters of the Mediterranean is causing anxiety in the scientific and business communities, as it threatens the balance of the marine ecosystem and creates new challenges for the fishing industry. The problem, which is due to the infiltration of the species via the Suez Canal, was the subject of an international conference with the title “Lionfish in the Mediterranean III”, which took place in Monaco on 13-15 October under the auspices of Prince Albert II.

The aim of the three day-meeting, which brought together leading scientists and institutional representatives, was the drawing up of a comprehensive strategy for managing the invasive species, and the promotion of sustainable solutions which will counterbalance the ecological and economic dimensions of the phenomenon.

Prospects for consumption
As was emphasised at the meeting, Mediterranean consumers remain largely uninformed about the nutritional and gastronomic qualities of the lionfish, a fact which prevents the development of a market capable of absorbing the species and contributing to its rational management. A strategy of information and promotion was therefore proposed, with the participation of chefs, dieticians and representatives of the food supply chain, so as to boost demand and increase commercial value while also benefiting fisheries.

Greece was represented by the President of the Chania Chamber of Industry and Commerce and Vice President of the Central Union of Chambers of Greece, Antonis Rokakis, who spoke of the contribution of small-scale family fisheries to the development of a sustainable supply chain. As he said: “Coastal family fisheries have the capacity to become catalysts for change, catching lionfish from coastal areas, informing consumers and contributing to the sustainability of their communities.”

He also emphasised the obstacles delaying the exploitation of lionfish, such as the risks involved in handling because of its poisonous spines, the lack of information available to the public, seasonal variations in catches and the regulatory gaps which have not yet incorporated it into the commercial codes of the European Union.

The participants in the conference, which included the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), agreed that a coordinated European action is required for the protection of biodiversity and the exploitation of lionfish as a new sustainable marine product.

Prince Albert II undertook to implement a political initiative at the level of leaders of the Mediterranean states, so as to advance cooperation in implementing the aims of the strategy.
(Haniotika Nea, 16/10/25)

The Mediterranean Science Commission’s report
The event was organised by, among others, the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM), which was founded in the early 20th century to promote international research across the Mediterranean and Black Seas and now has 23 Member States. Prince Albert II of Monaco is its President. The following report from their website gives something of the flavour of the discussions.

“Over three lively days, experts, fishers, chefs and policymakers from 11 Mediterranean countries exchanged views — sometimes calmly, sometimes with the passionate enthusiasm only scientists can bring to a good hypothesis. Not surprisingly, the first day was science-driven and ‘animated’ as debates swirled around competing ideas:
— Do lionfish prefer company or solitude (aggregational vs. solitary behaviour)?
— What about spawning periods, cannibalism tendencies, or whether older lionfish simply taste better?
Every perspective added a new piece to the puzzle of how this species behaves and adapts in its not-so-native Mediterranean home.

“Day two shifted gears from theory to practice. The focus turned to how this new resource can be responsibly managed and even valued – from fishing yields and legal hurdles to the marketing potential of lionfish fillets. The discussions revealed the same energy as the fish themselves: resilient, adaptable, and occasionally spiky.

“The third day looked inward – to the human dimension. The ‘psycho-social’ session reminded everyone that adaptation to lionfish is not just about nets and numbers, but about perceptions, culture and coexistence. No one spoke of eradication: the consensus was clear – we still have much to learn before declaring the lionfish a villain. Perhaps, in balance, it may even play a compensatory ecological role.

“As the conference closed, participants agreed that the way forward lies in regional cooperation, smart policies, and inclusive science – all grounded in a Mediterranean spirit of pragmatism and dialogue.”

The lionfish, a Lessepsian migrant
Along with a number of other invasive species, the lionfish (genus Pterois) is what is termed a Lessepsian migrant, named after the builder of the Suez Canal, the route via which they arrived in the Mediterranean. First spotted in Israel in 1991, it spread to Lebanon in 2012 and then Cyprus in 2014. In recent years it has been creating a major problem for fishermen in southern Greece as it feeds on the eggs and the young of other fish species and has none of the predators which it had in the Indian Ocean. A video (in English) on France24.com, describes the challenges facing Greek fishermen and an initiative on the island of Elafonissos in the Peloponnese aimed at promoting the fish as an edible species:
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/down-to-earth/20250908-unstoppable-predator-lionfish-take-hold-in-greek-waters