The Mediterranean fish biodiversity is suffering a serious crisis since more than half of underwater population is overfished, besides the massive presence of invasive fish species coming from the nearby seas. Research on fishes is crucial to preserving ecosystem balances and the Principality of Monaco is actively involved in it. A targeted inventory of Brown Groupers and Corbs, iconic ambassadors of Monaco's coastline, has been recently sponsored by Monaco Environment Directorate. Both species were classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and they have been benefiting from protection by the Principality, since 1993.
Since 2006, the Groupe d’Etude du Mérou - GEM (Study Group of Grouper) has been charged by the Prince's Government to check, every three years, the number and health status of Brown Groupers and Corbs while testing the effectiveness of protection measures through cutting edge techniques.
From the 30th September to the 4th October 2024, the 7th edition follow-up campaign was carried out to provide data for the last eighteen years.
GEM's divers are able to move in parallel (a few meters apart from each other), depending on the topography of the sites and visibility conditions. This strategy allows to achieve a comprehensive knowledge of the covered areas.
Each encountered fish is examined under different parameters, notably: size (estimatd total length: 5 cm), species (Note: a royal grouper was observed during the previous mission), dive time, depth and habitat characteristics (e.g.: rock, herbarium, scree, falling, etc.). Fishes behaviour (e.g.: desire to escape, indifference, in hole or in open water) and the direction of their movements are also noted. These initiatives are crucial, considering that the Monegasque urban territory includes one of the oldest Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in the Mediterrranean Sea: the Aire Marine Protégée du Larvotto established in 1976. ***
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By Maurice Abbati
Journalist; Editor; Communication, Media and Public Relations Specialist
Lecturer and Author in English language of Technical Articles and the Manual: "Communicating the Environment to Save the Planet, a Journey into Eco-Communication" by Springer International Publishing.
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