Many Non-Indigenous Species are now present in the Mediterranean Sea, a situation exacerbated by climate change and the intensification of human activities (maritime transport, recreational boating, coastal infrastructures).

While all these species require close monitoring, ALIEN-OCCICAT targets here a selection of species near our coasts, recently established or already invasive. The goal is to better understand their distribution and abundance levels.

These target species were specifically chosen for their accessibility during dive observations and because they allow for reliable visual identification with high confidence. For each of them, a descriptive fact sheet is available to provide you with all the keys to recognize them in the field and better understand their history.