Director: Aylin Ulman
The marine ecosystem reaps us with so many rewards, yet its health is under extreme threat from many cumulative stressors such as overfishing, invasive species, pollution and climate change. The Mediterranean Sea especially suffers from the highest rates of overfishing and alien species invasions, which are our two focus study areas. Our mission is to help improve the Mediterranean by doing science that matters, along with outreach, action and advocacy, to help change policy. Our strong sense of urgency to improve the marine realm unites us. Whether you need help with project planning, collaborators, collecting samples, conducting field-work, data analysis or scientific writing, we are here to help! We also especially contribute to Mediterranean basin-wide projects.
Our Core Team
Taner Yildiz
Associate Professor, Fisheries Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey Fish biology, biodiversity, fisheries management specialist
Nazli Demirel
Associate Professor, Istanbul University, Turkey Fisheries, fisheries management and stock assessment specialist
Burak Ali Cicek
Professor, Marine Biology, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus MPA, cetacean, turtle and elasmobranch specialist
Our Collaborators
Adi Barash
PhD Candidate, Israel Mediterranean shark and ray expert
Anna Occhipinti-Ambrogi
Professor of Ecology, University of Pavia, Italy Mediterranean non-indigenous species and bryozoan expert
Salome Bu
PhD Candidate, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada Coral, kelp and elasmobranch specialist
Francesco Colloca
Researcher, Stazione Zoologica Antoni Dohrn, Napoli, Italy Marine ecologist, conservationist, biodiversity and climate change specialist
Mustafa Zengin
Researcher, Central Fisheries Research Institute, Trabzon, Turkey Black Sea fisheries specialist
Emre Yemişken
Marine bioactive compounds specialist, Hydrobiology Dept., Istanbul University
Jasmine Ferrario
Post-Doc, University of Pavia, Italy Macroinvertebrate, biofouling and bryozoan specialist
Aitor Forcada
Associate Professor, University of Alicante, Spain Fisheries assessments, MPA, GIS and statistics specialist
Giulio Franzitta
Technician & Scientific Diver, Stazione Zoologica Antoni Dhorn Napoli, Italy Marine ecologist specializing in benthic econogy, alien species, MPAs & habitat restoration
Ioannis Giovos
iSea Founder and Fisheries Director, Thessaloniki, Greece Fisheries & elasmobranch specialist
Claire Hornby
Fisheries Scientist, Department of Fisheries & Oceans, Manitoba, Canada Cetacean specialist
Merve Karakus
Fisheries Engineer/Researcher. Coordinator Bayoma Project, Demre, Turkey Deep sea biology and ecology & invasive species specialist
Veronica Lo
Researcher, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden Protected area mgmt., stakeholder engagement, climate change, ecosystem-based adaptation
Agnese Marchini
Associate Professor, Ecology, University of Pavia, Italy Amphipod, biofouling and ecology specialist
Christoph Monsens
Post-Doc, University of Ghent, Belgium Ecotoxicology, fatty acid, tropic ecology & marine biodiversity specialist
Eezin Ong
Post-Doc, University of Ghent, Belgium Climate change, ocean acidification, ecophysiology and behavioural responses to stressors
Daniel Pauly
Daniel Pauly Director, Sea Around Us, University of British Columbia, Canada Grandfather of fisheries science, fishbase and 'Shifting baselines' founder
Chiara Piroddi
Researcher, Joint Research Council, European Commission, Ispra, Italy Ecopath modeler, fisheries & fisheries management specialist
Rily Pollom
IUCN Shark Specialist, Vancouver, Canada
Robin Ramdeen
MPA scientist, The Waitt Foundation & Blue Halo Initiative Caribbean & Maldives
Roxani Naasan Aga-Spyridopoluou
Researcher, iSea, Thessaloniki, Greece Shark and ray researcher
Vahdet Ünal
Professor in Fisheries Economics & Fisheries Management, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
Mert Gokalp
Marine biologist/ Documentary maker, Istanbul, Turkey
Alexander Q. Fogg
Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Derby Event Director, Marine Resource Manager, Okaloosa County, Florida, USA
Steve Gittings
Science Coordinator- NOAA Office of Marine Sanctuaries, Maryland, USA
Holden E. Harris
Post-doc, University of Florida, Ecosystem Modeling and Lionfish expert, Florida, USA
Phil Karp
Citizen Scientist focusing on valorization of invasive species, USA
Lionfish University
JV Hart and Stacy Frank’s non-profit NGO dedicated to lionfish research, awareness and control
Anthony Valiulis
CEO Castawave, Lionfish Solutions Specialist
Support Team
Scott W. Gonnello
CEO of Lionfish Central and creator of the Lionfish Patrol App
Ali Kaan Topuz
Oceanids Diving Center Kaş, Turkey