Informing the general public on the threat status of the European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) through Citizen-Science and social media platforms. A case study from the Aegean Sea


THODOROS E. KAMPOURIS
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2528-6941
DROSOS KOUTSOUBAS
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9514-1644
KATERINA KANELOPOULOU
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6561-6576
CASSANDRA ZANNAKI
IOANNIS E. BATJAKAS
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8141-6547
Resumen

Research known as Citizen Science (CS) has been recognized as an important tool for both biodiversity restoration and fisheries management projects through active involvement of citizens and therefore for public environmental awareness too. CS projects should be well designed and state clear questions, that will benefit both the research goals and the citizen scientists themselves. In January 2019, the “Red Fish Project” group was created on Facebook consisting of SCUBA divers and fishers and offering the main data source and the relevant digital material. The project’s establishment was based on previous personal experience and following specific protocols. Further information was provided by personal communications. Till October 21st, 2020 the FB group consisted of 464 members who recorded 348 European spiny lobster individuals from all sub-regions of the Aegean Sea. Based on the findings of the present study it seems that most of the citizens were unaware that the species is listed as “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List. Lastly, we discuss the important role of the spiny lobster in the country’s culture and that it can be listed as a charismatic, flagship species for citizens to be ocean-literate since it has been shown, that it can raise the interest of recreational divers and increase their awareness.

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  • Special Issue Ocean Literacy
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Biografía del autor/a
THODOROS E. KAMPOURIS, Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Lesvos Island, Greece
Marine Sciences Department, PhD researcher
DROSOS KOUTSOUBAS, Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Lesvos Island, Greece
Department of Marine Sciences, Professor
KATERINA KANELOPOULOU, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Geospatial Information Directorate, 2 Panormou str., 11523, Athens, Greece
Ministry of Environment and Energy, Geospatial Information Directorate
CASSANDRA ZANNAKI, Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Lesvos Island, Greece
Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Postgraduate student
IOANNIS E. BATJAKAS, Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Lesvos Island, Greece
Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, Assistant Professor
Citas
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