The purpose of the WP2 is to collect samples of the three species L. sceleratus, P. miles and F. commersonii using common fishing gear used by coastal fishermen and a specially designed one, that can be integrated into thei existing equipment . Their relationship with other species that are caught at the same time, as well as the eligibility of the fishing gear for these species, will also be studied. For the fishing and sampling, the following will be used: a) the most common of the available and legally used fishing gear, ie static nets (gillnets and trawls), bottom curves, longlines e.t.c, b) modified baited curves, seated at the bottom of the sea for the examination of their eligibility in catching L. sceleratus  and c) the Long Stay Trap for Catching Lionfish. Existing fishing gear will be used without modification, just as professional fishermen use them. All tools will be evaluated for their efficiency for each species. Sampling will take place in selected locations around the island of Rhodes (southeastern Aegean), after a preliminary check with interviews with fishermen (questionnaires specially designed for this purpose). 

In the selected sampling areas, multibeam echo sounding will be performed as well as side scan sonar of the marine floor and its habitats.

WP leader: HCMR