D2C2 Established NIS (2.1, 2.1.1)

LevelPressureEnvironment

ImpactPressureWaterColumn

ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats

ImpactPressureFunctionalGroup

NIS2_1

NISWaterColumnHabitat2_2

NISSeabedHabitats2_2

NISFunctionalGroups2_2

HabitatsOther

HabitatsOther

CephalopodsCoastShelf, FishCoastal, FishDemersal, FishDemersalElasmobranchs, FishPelagic, FishPelagicElasmobranchs

All water column

All seabed

NotGood

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Low

The man-made Suez canal is the principal pathway through which NIS enter the Eastern Mediterranean. Shallow water species are more likely to be established and are made up of littoral or sublittoral benthic or demersal species since they are also more likely to be introduced by the predominant method of introduction via the Suez Canal. Regarding the marine waters of Cyprus, no intentional introductions are known to have taken place. Aquaculture in Cyprus deals primarily with Mediterranean species and aquarium facilities on the island are limited and well regulated. Accidental release of organisms is not thought to have taken place but cannot be ruled out via such a pathway. It is not known how many or indeed if any organisms have been introduced by ballast waters in the area but the possibility of this occurring due to the proximity with the Red Sea in particular is highly likely and is a more than likely an ongoing process. Cyprus ports are a hub for container transportation and this causes the likelihood of ballast water release to be increased. Additionally fouling organisms transported on vessels are also unknown and rarely documented although the incidence of this has become more common due to increased scientific interest. Introduction is likelier to take place in Cyprus water due to the shorter periods of time organisms are held in ballast tanks and the similarity of abiotic factors between the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

Up to date (2012), 15 invasive alien species (IAS) have been identified in Cyprus waters: - Macroalgae: - Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea - Cladophora cf patentiramea - Fish: - Siganus luridus and Siganus rivulatus - Lagocephalus sceleratus - Fistularia commersonii - Sillago sihama - Sphoeroides pachygaster - Molluscs: - Brachidontes pharaonis - Pinctada radiata - Cerithium scabridum - Strombus (Conomurex) persicus - Trochus (Infundibulops) erithraeus - Crustacea: - Charybdis helleri - Annelida: - Pseudonereis anomala Even though the NIS which are currently established or simply present in Cyprus waters could potentially cause adverse impacts in the not-too-distant future, attention must be focused on these 15 IAS for the evaluation of the status of the marine environment of Cyprus, since all of these are considered to cause significant impacts to the marine ecosystem. More specifically: - The two siganids in the list above constitute a notable exception to the rule, in that they are a target of a selective coastal fishery and are of commercial importance, - L. sceleratus accounts for an estimable percentage of the artisanal fishery catch (4 % by weight in 2010) with a high concentration of individuals (and potential nursery grounds) in the south east areas of the island, - F. commersonii has become highly abundant in artisanal catches suggesting a particularly invasive population has been established, but its impact remains unknown, - C. racemosa readily occupies bare soft- and hard-substrate seafloor around the island and potentially causes changes in the macroalgal and macrofaunal communities present at those locations, - Cladophora cf patentiramea causes episodic blooms that constitute a source of nuisance in the southeastern part of the island, No information is currently available for the rest of the IAS in the above list with regards to ecosystem alteration.

High

Low

Low

Low

Increasing

Increase

The man-made Suez canal is the principal pathway through which NIS enter the Eastern Mediterranean. Shallow water species are more likely to be established and are made up of littoral or sublittoral benthic or demersal species since they are also more likely to be introduced by the predominant method of introduction via the Suez Canal. It is not known how many or indeed if any organisms have been introduced by ballast waters in the area but the possibility of this occurring due to the proximity with the Red Sea in particular is highly likely and is a more than likely an ongoing process. Cyprus ports are a hub for container transportation and this causes the likelihood of ballast water release to be increased. Additionally fouling organisms transported on vessels are also unknown and rarely documented although the incidence of this has become more common due to increased scientific interest. Introduction is likelier to take place in Cyprus water due to the shorter periods of time organisms are held in ballast tanks and the similarity of abiotic factors between the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

The man-made Suez canal is the principal pathway through which NIS enter the Eastern Mediterranean. Shallow water species are more likely to be established and are made up of littoral or sublittoral benthic or demersal species since they are also more likely to be introduced by the predominant method of introduction via the Suez Canal. It is not known how many or indeed if any organisms have been introduced by ballast waters in the area but the possibility of this occurring due to the proximity with the Red Sea in particular is highly likely and is a more than likely an ongoing process. Cyprus ports are a hub for container transportation and this causes the likelihood of ballast water release to be increased. Additionally fouling organisms transported on vessels are also unknown and rarely documented although the incidence of this has become more common due to increased scientific interest. Introduction is likelier to take place in Cyprus water due to the shorter periods of time organisms are held in ballast tanks and the similarity of abiotic factors between the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

The man-made Suez canal is the principal pathway through which NIS enter the Eastern Mediterranean. Shallow water species are more likely to be established and are made up of littoral or sublittoral benthic or demersal species since they are also more likely to be introduced by the predominant method of introduction via the Suez Canal. It is not known how many or indeed if any organisms have been introduced by ballast waters in the area but the possibility of this occurring due to the proximity with the Red Sea in particular is highly likely and is a more than likely an ongoing process. Cyprus ports are a hub for container transportation and this causes the likelihood of ballast water release to be increased. Additionally fouling organisms transported on vessels are also unknown and rarely documented although the incidence of this has become more common due to increased scientific interest. Introduction is likelier to take place in Cyprus water due to the shorter periods of time organisms are held in ballast tanks and the similarity of abiotic factors between the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

The man-made Suez canal is the principal pathway through which NIS enter the Eastern Mediterranean. Shallow water species are more likely to be established and are made up of littoral or sublittoral benthic or demersal species since they are also more likely to be introduced by the predominant method of introduction via the Suez Canal. It is not known how many or indeed if any organisms have been introduced by ballast waters in the area but the possibility of this occurring due to the proximity with the Red Sea in particular is highly likely and is a more than likely an ongoing process. Cyprus ports are a hub for container transportation and this causes the likelihood of ballast water release to be increased. Additionally fouling organisms transported on vessels are also unknown and rarely documented although the incidence of this has become more common due to increased scientific interest. Introduction is likelier to take place in Cyprus water due to the shorter periods of time organisms are held in ballast tanks and the similarity of abiotic factors between the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• LandClaimDefence
• NotReported

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• LandClaimDefence
• NotReported

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• LandClaimDefence
• NotReported

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• LandClaimDefence
• NotReported

There is a dearth of data regarding abundances and temporal and spatial distributions of NIS and especially invasive alien species (IAS) in Cyprus waters. Moreover, based on limited information from other national or EU-mandated monitoring programmes, many of the IAS are widely spread and are highly invasive, suggesting significant impacts on the ecosystem. The recommendations that follow aim at allowing the government in 2018 to be in a better position to quantitatively assess the status of the marine environment of Cyprus in relation to IAS and to set (semi-)quantitative targets for the period of 2018-2024. - In the case of fish IAS that are frequently caught by artisanal fisheries, as well as in the case of macroalgal IAS (i.e., Caulerpa racemosa) that are monitored during WFD-mandated monitoring, abundances and spatial and temporal distributions could be calculated from the generated databases. It is likely that the determination of temporal distributions may require data collection at greater frequencies than at present. However, the existing monitoring or data-collecting efforts should be mined for estimates of these indicators using suitable metrics. - In the case of fish, macroalgae, and molluscs, ratios between the numbers of IAS and native species can be calculated based on stock assessments and samples collected in the framework of existing monitoring programmes. - Finally, impacts are currently not assessed directly at present. Research programmes should be pursued if the opportunity arises to contribute to knowledge in this direction.

There is a dearth of data regarding abundances and temporal and spatial distributions of NIS and especially invasive alien species (IAS) in Cyprus waters. Moreover, based on limited information from other national or EU-mandated monitoring programmes, many of the IAS are widely spread and are highly invasive, suggesting significant impacts on the ecosystem. The recommendations that follow aim at allowing the government in 2018 to be in a better position to quantitatively assess the status of the marine environment of Cyprus in relation to IAS and to set (semi-)quantitative targets for the period of 2018-2024. - In the case of fish IAS that are frequently caught by artisanal fisheries, as well as in the case of macroalgal IAS (i.e., Caulerpa racemosa) that are monitored during WFD-mandated monitoring, abundances and spatial and temporal distributions could be calculated from the generated databases. It is likely that the determination of temporal distributions may require data collection at greater frequencies than at present. However, the existing monitoring or data-collecting efforts should be mined for estimates of these indicators using suitable metrics. - In the case of fish, macroalgae, and molluscs, ratios between the numbers of IAS and native species can be calculated based on stock assessments and samples collected in the framework of existing monitoring programmes. - Finally, impacts are currently not assessed directly at present. Research programmes should be pursued if the opportunity arises to contribute to knowledge in this direction.

There is a dearth of data regarding abundances and temporal and spatial distributions of NIS and especially invasive alien species (IAS) in Cyprus waters. Moreover, based on limited information from other national or EU-mandated monitoring programmes, many of the IAS are widely spread and are highly invasive, suggesting significant impacts on the ecosystem. The recommendations that follow aim at allowing the government in 2018 to be in a better position to quantitatively assess the status of the marine environment of Cyprus in relation to IAS and to set (semi-)quantitative targets for the period of 2018-2024. - In the case of fish IAS that are frequently caught by artisanal fisheries, as well as in the case of macroalgal IAS (i.e., Caulerpa racemosa) that are monitored during WFD-mandated monitoring, abundances and spatial and temporal distributions could be calculated from the generated databases. It is likely that the determination of temporal distributions may require data collection at greater frequencies than at present. However, the existing monitoring or data-collecting efforts should be mined for estimates of these indicators using suitable metrics. - In the case of fish, macroalgae, and molluscs, ratios between the numbers of IAS and native species can be calculated based on stock assessments and samples collected in the framework of existing monitoring programmes. - Finally, impacts are currently not assessed directly at present. Research programmes should be pursued if the opportunity arises to contribute to knowledge in this direction.

There is a dearth of data regarding abundances and temporal and spatial distributions of NIS and especially invasive alien species (IAS) in Cyprus waters. Moreover, based on limited information from other national or EU-mandated monitoring programmes, many of the IAS are widely spread and are highly invasive, suggesting significant impacts on the ecosystem. The recommendations that follow aim at allowing the government in 2018 to be in a better position to quantitatively assess the status of the marine environment of Cyprus in relation to IAS and to set (semi-)quantitative targets for the period of 2018-2024. - In the case of fish IAS that are frequently caught by artisanal fisheries, as well as in the case of macroalgal IAS (i.e., Caulerpa racemosa) that are monitored during WFD-mandated monitoring, abundances and spatial and temporal distributions could be calculated from the generated databases. It is likely that the determination of temporal distributions may require data collection at greater frequencies than at present. However, the existing monitoring or data-collecting efforts should be mined for estimates of these indicators using suitable metrics. - In the case of fish, macroalgae, and molluscs, ratios between the numbers of IAS and native species can be calculated based on stock assessments and samples collected in the framework of existing monitoring programmes. - Finally, impacts are currently not assessed directly at present. Research programmes should be pursued if the opportunity arises to contribute to knowledge in this direction.