The lionfish is making progress in the Mediterranean; according to the most recent data, dating back to March 2025, there are 1,840 reports of its existence in various countries surrounding the basin. In Italy, the Ionian Sea remains the most affected area, one of the most vulnerable zones to the invasion of tropical alien species. It is precisely for this reason that ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) and CNR-IRBIM (Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies of the CNR of Ancona) are relaunching the awareness campaign "Attenti a quei 4!" in collaboration with the AlienFish project. The invitation is extended to fishermen, divers, and regular people who have seen or caught one of the four tropical fish that are possibly harmful to the ecosystem and health: the lionfish (Pterois miles), the spotted pufferfish, the dark rabbitfish, and the striped rabbitfish. The campaign gives important information for identifying them, avoiding mishaps, and helping to monitor their spread. Recently, the journal Mediterranean Marine Science released an updated research signed by ISPRA and CNR-IRBIM that detailed the proliferation of scorpion fish in the Mediterranean. The data obtained and integrated into the ORMEF portal now represent the most comprehensive collection of information on this invasive species in our waters. The campaign, which has been in operation since 2022, is a response to the consistent rise in the number of reports and captures of extraterrestrial specimens in Italian waters. A problem that, amid climate change and globalization, necessitates ongoing attention, general awareness, and engagement from everyone.
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