Sahar Fahmy Mehanna

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries NIOF, Egypt.

Abstract Title:

Biography:

Prof. Dr. Sahar Fahmy Mehanna, is a professor of Fish Population Dynamics and stock assessment, head of Fisheries Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries NIOF, Egypt. Her research interest focuses on fisheries management, marine ecology, sustainable aquaculture and aquatic life conservation. She has up to 36 years’ experience in Fish Population Dynamics and aquatic resources assessment and management. She has published 220 papers in international peer reviewed journals, 9 book chapters and more than 60 articles in national and international conferences. She has supervised 45 MSc and PhD Theses for both Egyptian and Arab students.

Research Interest:

There are probably no ecosystems on earth which may resist the introduction of an alien species. Success of an introduced species in the new environment generally depends on a combination of several bio-ecological factors. The migration of Red Sea fishes through the Suez Canal, which is known as “Lessepsian migration has impacted the ecosystem of the Eastern Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Sea is an enclosed basin connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the narrow sill of the Strait of Gibraltar and to the Indian Ocean by 146 years-old Suez Canal. Human activities, such as shipping through ballast water and fouling, aquaculture and aquarium trades, and the Suez Canal, have led to the introduction of nearly 1000 alien species into the Mediterranean Sea. Not all the invasion is of negative impacts, the richness of Red Sea species introduced through the Suez Canal (Lessepsian species) to the eastern Mediterranean coastline, reaching a maximum of 129 species per 100 km2 , as well as many Lessepsian species have positive impacts on the ecosystem and biodiversity and securing food for millions of people. In Egypt, more than 54% of the Mediterranean catch is of Red Sea origin, and these fish species are of commercial importance and compose the main food for the coastal communities on the Egyptian Mediterranean. The most common ones are Saurida undosquamis, Nemipterus japonicas, Siganus rivulatus, S. luridus, Sardinella aurita, Etreumus teres, Lagocephalus spp., Penaeus semisulcatus, P. japonicas, Liza carinata, Sepia pharaonis, Pomadasys stridens, Terapon puta, Erugosquilla massavensis. On the other hand, few numbers of species have caused some health problems but this could be mitigated by some regulations. This talk is prepared to discuss and demonstrate the economic importance of most Lessepsian immigrant fish species and their contribution to the eastern Mediterranean economy and food security as well as the negative impacts of some Lessepsian immigrant and how to mitigate it.
Keywords: Lessepsian migration, invasive species, alien species, commercial importance, positive and negative impacts