A surprising find near Nessebar has puzzled Bulgarian scientists – a lobster weighing over a kilogram was caught in the nets of a fishing boat. This is not an isolated case. In recent months, similar specimens have been spotted on both the Northern and Southern Black Sea coasts, which raises questions about whether a new species is already establishing itself in our waters, Nova TV reports.
„My first reaction was surprise. I thought they might be joking“, admits Assoc. Prof. Violin Raykov from the Institute of Oceanology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. However, after talking to colleagues and fishermen, it became clear – the find is completely real.
The lobsters that fall into the nets are most likely a European species, typical of warmer and saltier waters. This makes their appearance in the Black Sea unusual and intriguing. Scientists are currently investigating several possible hypotheses. One of them is the transport of ballast water from ships, which can unintentionally transport marine organisms between different regions.
„There are several ways to transport organisms - with ships, with ballast water, sometimes through aquaculture“, explains Assoc. Prof. Raykov. Another possibility is the influence of climate change. With the increase in sea water temperature, more and more heat-loving species are finding suitable conditions for life in the Black Sea.
„I agree that there is a connection with climate change and the increase in biodiversity. There are many examples of organisms that have sustainably settled in our environment. But it is too early to say whether this will also apply to lobsters“, the scientist specifies.
The possibility that the lobsters were deliberately released into the sea – for example by private aquaculture is not ruled out. However, their survival remains in question, as the Black Sea has a lower salinity compared to the Atlantic Ocean. “The salinity of the water is an important factor in order to reproduce successfully, lobsters need a saltier environment“, explains Assoc. Prof. Raykov.
At this stage, these are isolated cases, but specialists from the Institute of Oceanology are carefully monitoring the process. “We are watching with great interest and hope that there will be more specimens of this species, says Raykov.