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“GeoSUB – Underwater geology” – Ustica, 13-17 September 2016

citizen science platform “Seawatchers”. The first one is a two-year Participated Project (sponsored
by the Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies-STEBICEF,
University of Palermo and the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area) launched on 27th August 2014
and aimed at creating a database on the spread dynamics and the levels of threat of C. cylindracea
within the Egadi Islands MPA. The second one is a platform of projects, coordinated by the Institute
of Marine Sciences of Barcelona (CSIC, Spain), that relies on the collaboration among citizens and
scientists. The results of these projects highlight how important the contribution of citizen scientists
is for collecting new data and information on non-native marine species, and can be also used as an
early-warning system. Moreover, they represent an opportunity to promote the creation of a
permanent observatory “a warning system” for alien species within the Mediterranean Sea.

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