The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing an influx of invasive species due to climate change, with scientists warning of devastating consequences for native fish populations. The sea’s waters are expected to warm by 2 to 6 degrees Celsius by 2100, making it an ideal environment for invasive species like the spotted puffer fish and lionfish.

Impact on Coastal Communities

Coastal communities will struggle to make ends meet as biodiversity diminishes, and the changes are stark. The shallows of the eastern Mediterranean have lost 93% of their mollusk population, and the die-off of mussels along the Adriatic coast has been spectacular.

Experts say that the spread of invasive species can’t be reversed, but there are practical ways to mitigate the impact. Preventing further migration by enforcing an international treaty to treat ballast waters inside incoming ships and using special paint on ship hulls to thwart unwanted hitchhikers can reduce the number of new alien species by 95 to 99%.

Commercializing invasive species that are edible and paying fishers to catch inedible ones are also being considered as ways to cope with the problem. However, scientists stress that reducing the use of fossil fuels is essential to addressing the root cause of the issue.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.