Nodavirus in Wild Fish: Addressing the Mediterranean Grouper Mortality Crisis

Viral Encephalopathy and Retinopathy, a disease affecting a wide range of fish species worldwide has severely impacted wild groupers in the Mediterranean over the past two years. An unprecedented number of fish have been stranded along the coasts of Spain, Italy, and Greece, signaling a critical ecological threat. There is an urgent need for a coordinated response. This workshop brings together international experts to assess the impacts of these epizootics and explore strategies to mitigate their effects on marine ecosystems

Key Topics:

· Presentation of the incidences in the affected countries

· Impacts on fish stocks and ecosystems

· Role of citizen science in the collection of data

· Measures to address the problem

Invited speakers will present the issue, examine its impacts, and explore potential solutions. To be followed by a roundtable discussion to set research priorities and identify possible funding sources for collaborative projects.

List of speakers (10 minutes each) :

1. Mylonas C.: Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) reproductive biology

2. Volpe E.: VNN mortality outbreaks in Northern Mediterranean groupers

3) Zrnčić S.: VNN mortality in Adriatic sea

4. Toffan A.: Wild fish VNN mortality in Italy and Greece in 2024

5. Katharios P.: Tracking Grouper mortality through citizen engagement in coastal Greece

Discussion