Swan Hellenic answers call of S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, launching lionfish initiative in Chania (Crete – Greece) to help control and raise awareness of Mediterranean Invasive Species
Cultural expedition cruise pioneer Swan Hellenic has launched a Lionfish Control Initiative in partnership with the NGOs Elafonisos Eco and SDG4MED, dedicated to raising awareness of the ecological threat posed by this invasive species in the Mediterranean.
The initiative forms part of Swan Hellenic’s contribution to the European Commission’s Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 and responds to calls to action by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, an active proponent of initiatives to combat lionfish.
At Elafonisos Eco Week 2025 (April 14–16), H.S.H. Prince Albert II delivered a keynote speech stressing the urgent need to counter the lionfish invasion of the Mediterranean, and called for community-led efforts promoting biodiversity, cleanups and public education, which can all play a decisive role.
Swan Hellenic’s launch event took place on September the 11th aboard SH Diana during her stay in the port of Chania, Crete, as part of an 8-night cultural expedition cruise from Piraus, the port of Athens, to Istanbul.
The event included a special dinner, featuring dishes specially created by Swan Hellenic’s culinary team using locally caught lionfish, and concluded with a dedicated awareness workshop.
Lionfish, which are native to the Indo-Pacific, were first detected along Florida coasts in the mid-1980s, now the whole U.S. East Coast, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea are infested: reefs, wrecks, and other habitat types in the warm marine waters. Females can produce over 2 million eggs per year.
Lionfish are voracious ambush predators that primarily feed on juvenile fish, shrimp, small lobsters and crab and other small fish, reducing by 5 years up to 30% native species.
Lionfish entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal in 2012 and rapidly started colonizing its waters, threatening local biodiversity and commercial and recreational fisheries.
Swan Hellenic’s Lionfish Control Initiative builds on the pioneering work of Mr. Enrico Toja, President of Elafonisos Eco, who has made the Greek island of Elafonisos a hub for lionfish awareness and research.
Onboard SH DIANA, Mr. Enrico Toja, President & Katerina Kokkinaki, Green Marketing & Project Manager of ELAFONISOS ECO explained the rapid spread of the lionfish, its devastating impact on local biodiversity and fisheries, and the urgent need to involve consumers and opinion leaders in turning the predator into a sustainable food source.
“An innovative and interesting element is gastronomy,” explained Mr. Toja.
“Lionfish is not only edible but delicious, suitable for ceviche, grilling and soups. A lionfish food market is practical, feasible and should be promoted as culinary demand can help control this invasion.”
By turning this invasive species into a delicacy, Swan Hellenic is acting on the United Nations’ recommendation that the most effective strategy to counter invasive species is to fish and eat them — a practical and sustainable solution that combines environmental action with gastronomy.
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito commented: “As the creator of cultural expedition cruising, Swan Hellenic has a duty to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting the regions we explore. Our Lionfish Initiative combines science, gastronomy and guest engagement to support a cause of vital importance to the Mediterranean and beyond.”
“The lionfish threat to the Mediterranean is very real,” commented Prof. Laura Giuliano, Director General of the prestigious Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM), headquartered in Monaco.
“Lionfish could soon be found swimming outside the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. Bringing it into our culinary practice, adopting the “Control by Consumption” strategy recommended by the United Nations, is the correct approach. We commend Swan Hellenic for this initiative.”
By integrating this initiative in its cruise experience, Swan Hellenic is once again taking concrete action in pursuit of its mission: to bring guests deeper into the heart of cultures and ecosystems, fostering knowledge and respect for the world’s most vulnerable environments.
Lionfish Invasion: A Mediterranean Threat
Lionfish (Pterois miles) are native to the Indo-Pacific but have spread rapidly across the Mediterranean since around 2012.
They are highly prolific — females can release up to 40,000 eggs every two weeks (over one million annually). They are also voracious predators, consuming large numbers of small fish and invertebrates, with devastating impacts on biodiversity and artisanal fisheries.
Confirmed sightings have already been reported in Cyprus, Crete, Sicily and Calabria, and scientists warn that lionfish may soon reach the coasts of Monaco.
UN Approach: Control Through Consumption
According to the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the best strategy to control invasive species like lionfish is to eat them.
This “control through consumption” approach is being promoted across the Mediterranean, encouraging fishers, chefs, consumers and opinion leaders to turn lionfish into a desirable food product.
Key Actors and Stakeholders
Prince Albert II of Monaco**: Advocated for stronger lionfish countermeasures at Elafonisos Eco Week 2025, calling for a “Mediterranean Invasive Species Living Lab”.
Elafonisos Eco & Mr. Toja**: Leading community efforts in Greece to raise awareness and establish practical initiatives against lionfish.
CIESM – The Mediterranean Science Commission (Dr. Laura Giuliano)**: Providing scientific leadership and coordination on marine biodiversity threats.
Prince Albert II Foundation**: Supporting projects that combine conservation, science and public engagement.
SDG4MED**: Driving Mediterranean-wide engagement, aligning lionfish mitigation with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting the consumer awareness dimension.
Why Consumers and Opinion Leaders Matter
Raising awareness among consumers, chefs and opinion leaders is essential. Only by creating demand for lionfish as a sustainable and even prestigious delicacy can its population be managed effectively.
This cultural shift — turning an ecological threat into an opportunity — is at the heart of Swan Hellenic’s Lionfish Control Initiative.
(Swan Hellenic answers call of S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, launching lionfish initiative in Chania (Crete – Greece) to help control and raise awareness of Mediterranean Invasive Species)
