Tunisia: Lionfish nears coast, alarming specialists

The lionfish (Pterois miles), identified as one of the world's most concerning invasive marine species, continues its spread in the Mediterranean Sea, now approaching Tunisian coasts. Although a full-scale invasion has not yet been observed in Tunisian waters, several isolated sightings have been recorded. Scientists believe that the warming of the Mediterranean Sea could facilitate its establishment in the coming years. Native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the lionfish entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, with its first sighting dating back to 1991. Initially confined to the eastern basin, the species has rapidly expanded westward since 2012 and is now firmly established in several regional countries, including Libya, Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia in Italy. Most recently, it was spotted in Malta in 2026, just a few hundred kilometers from Tunisia's shores. Despite these proximity warnings, three official sightings have been documented in Tunisian waters: one near Zembra Island in the Gulf of Tunis in 2015, another in El Haouaria months later, and a third off Ras Jebel in the Bizerte governorate in 2020. These remain isolated incidents, and scientific studies have not yet confirmed established populations along the Tunisian coast. However, specialists remain cautious, noting that rising Mediterranean water temperatures create increasingly favorable conditions for the species' long-term colonization.