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An individual fish, identified as a species of Paranthias, is recorded from a photograph taken in July 2013 at Marsascala, Malta. The species is likely to be P. furcifer but since no actual specimen has been forthcoming in spite of a long time since this record, and as certain identification is based on meristic counts, the fish is only conclusively identified to the genus level. Nonetheless, this is the first record of this genus from the central Mediterranean. The problems of identification based on images alone are discussed and it is recommended that publications based on such identifications should include a critical analysis of the uncertainties in the identification and of alternative identifications., peer-reviewed

The second record of the Queen angelfish, Holacanthus ciliaris (Linnaeus, 1758), is hereby documented for the Mediterranean, through a single individual spearfished within Maltese coastal waters. Considerations on the potential introduction pathway for the species, which is popular in the aquarium trade, are made., peer-reviewed

Assessment and management of Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus populations is hindered by our lack of knowledge regarding trans-Atlantic movement and connectivity of east- ern and western populations. Here, we evaluated migratory and homing behaviors of bluefin tuna in several regions of the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea using chemical tags ( δ 13 C and δ 18 O) in otoliths. Significant emigration of bluefin tuna from their place of origin was inferred from otolith δ 13 C and δ 18 O, with both eastern and western bluefin tuna commonly ‘crossing the line’ (45° W management boundary) in the Central North Atlantic Ocean and mixing with the other population. Several western migrants were also detected in Moroccan traps off the coast of Africa, indicating that trans-Atlantic movement occurs for members of the western population; however, the degree of mixing declined with proximity to the eastern spawning area (Mediterran- ean Sea). The origin of bluefin tuna collected at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar and from several regions within the Mediterranean Sea (Balearic Islands, Malta, and Sardinia) was essen- tially 100% eastern fish, demonstrating that natal homing is well developed by the eastern popu- lation, with western migrants rarely entering the Mediterranean Sea., SI

This paper summarizes some observations on gonad development and fecundity of the Lessepsian migrant Siganus luridus (Osteichthyes: Siganidae), recently settled in the islands of Malta and Linosa (Sicily strait, Mediterranean sea). The analysis of ovarian and testicular development showed that these early colonizers attain final gonad maturation and have the potential for successful reproduction., peer-reviewed

Background: Alien fish species are increasing in the Mediterranean Sea, urging closer monitoring of coastal habitats and biodiversity towards achieving timely assessment and management. Among the alien fish species found in Maltese waters there are members of the Abudefduf genus. Methods: Research work undertaken with the cooperation of fishermen allows for additional monitoring effort to record the presence of alien species and their possible impacts. One such alien fish specimen collected from Maltese waters in January 2014 was studied through morphological, meristic and genetic analyses. Mitochondrial DNA barcoding analyses were undertaken to confirm the species' identity given that the specimen found belonged to the genus Abudefduf which is composed of a number of congeners that have similar morphological characters. Results and conclusion: This research led to the identification of the first record of the African Sergeant, Abudefduf hoefleri (Steindachner 1881) (Perciformes: Pomacentridae), in the Mediterranean Sea. This alien tropical species is native of the East Atlantic and may aggressively compete with native Mediterranean reef species for territories and resources., peer-reviewed