An online meeting facilitated by IUCN-Med presented the progress and monitoring results from different Mediterranean institutions working to recover the critically endangered (CR) populations of Pinna Nobilis, now included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This meeting also outlined potential pathways for coordinating a joint response to the mass mortality event across the Mediterranean. Participants ranged from staff working in the public administration to researchers and representatives of EU Environment and SPA/RAC.

Latest status of Mediterranean Pinna Nobilis populations

In 2016, a first outbreak detected along the Eastern coast of Spain led to a 99% decline in the Noble Pen Shell populations (Pinna Nobilis) in Spain. Ever since, the disease attributed to a haplosporidian parasite has continued to expand rapidly throughout the Mediterranean. Building on the data shared by a wide range of Mediterranean partners and upon the initiative of IUCN-Med, Pinna Nobilis was finally included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species is also protected by several frameworks, such as the EU Habitats Directive and the Barcelona Convention.

The main purpose of this meeting was to follow up on the work carried out by different Mediterranean conservation actors to preserve the Noble Pen Shell, as well as harmonizing different approaches to enhance the effectiveness of regional cooperation.

During the first the session, both governmental and non-governmental institutions presented the results of their monitoring efforts, including mortality and survival estimates, distribution, conservation measures underway and rescue attempts in different zones, such as:

• the Western Mediterranean: Oceanographic Center of the Balearic Islands, IEO (Spain), Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute (France), ISPRA (Italy), Mohammed V University of Rabat (Morocco), Oran University (Algeria)
• the Adriatic Sea: Institute for Environment and Nature - Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (Croatia), National Institute of Biology (Slovenia), University of Montenegro (Montenegro)
• the Ioanian Sea and Center Mediterranean: University of the Aegean (Greece), Environment and Resources Authority (Malta), RAC/SPA (Tunisia)
• the Aegean and Levantine Sea: İzmir Katip Çelebi University (Turkey).
  
  

The second session, moderated by Institut Océanographique de Monaco focused on the conservation of Pinna nobilis in captivity conditions, such as aquariums, and research in the field of aquaculture from Observatoire océanologique de Banyuls (Sorbonne Université), Université de Perpignan, EPHE, Institut Paul Ricard and IMEDMAR (Universidad Católica de Valencia).

The closing session highlighted the role of unaffected populations for potential recovery, with a presentation from Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat of Universitat de Barcelona.

Cooperation with national ministries can be key for fast action

“I just want to praise the good work and the progress of this group. I think it's a fantastic example of how countries are cooperating.” stressed Vedran Nikolić from EU DG Environment. To enable funding for Pinna Nobilis conservation, Mr Nikolić urged the national administrations to spend money effectively and to include necessary needs in the next EU budget. He also underlined the need to expand the network of marine protected areas and to protect lagoons and sites where Pinna Nobilis recovery is known to be taking place.

For further information or if you would like to contribute to this initiative, please contact María del Mar Otero.