Economic support tools for MarIAS management in the Mediterranean

Creative Commons License

Demirel N.

Environmentally Friendly Economic Tools and Finances , Marseille, Fransa, 29 Ocak 2025, ss.1, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Marseille
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Fransa
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded marine ecosystem in the w orld, with nearly 1,000 non-native species introduced primarily through the Suez Canal, climate change, and global trade. These species—such as lionfish, pufferfish, and rabbitfish—cause severe ecological and economic damage, threatening fisheries, biodiversity, and coastal economies. The total estimated cost of these invasions is a staggering $27.3 billion.

Current management strategies are mostly reactive, focusing on controlling and eradicating established populations rather than preventing new introductions. This approach is costly and often ineffective. To address this, my study explores economic support tools that align conservation goals with financial incentives. These include:

  1. Subsidies and Compensation – Governments in Turkey and Cyprus are offering financial incentives to fishers who remove invasive species like pufferfish and lionfish.
  2. Market-Based Solutions – Some invasive species, such as blue crabs, are being integrated into commercial fisheries to turn a problem into an economic opportunity.
  3. Funding for Innovation – Investments in early detection technologies like environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring can help detect invasions before they spread.

However, challenges remain: insufficient funding, fragmented policies, and low public awareness limit the success of these initiatives. Stronger cross-border cooperation, public engagement, and adaptive management are essential for a long-term solution.

By integrating economic incentives with ecological sustainability, we can shift from reactive crisis management to proactive prevention—protecting the Mediterranean’s biodiversity and supporting coastal communities.