Fish Parasites Project on the Libyan Coast

This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of a pioneering research project undertaken by the Libyan Association of Friends of Artisanal Fishing. The project focuses on studying fish parasites in Libyan waters. This ambitious initiative seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and distribution of these parasites, their impact on fish health and local fisheries, and to develop recommendations for the sustainable management of fishery resources.

Research Team : The research team consists of a group of experts in the fields of zoology and marine ecology.

Expected Outcomes
This project is expected to result in several important outcomes, including:

Comprehensive Database: Creating a comprehensive database that includes all information related to fish parasites in Libyan waters.
Deeper Understanding of Diversity and Distribution: Gaining a deeper understanding of the diversity and geographical distribution of various parasite species.
Assessment of Parasite Impact: Conducting an accurate evaluation of the impact of these parasites on fish populations.
Identification of Potential Risks: Identifying potential risks that these parasites may pose to human health.
Recommendations for Sustainable Management: Providing scientific recommendations for sustainable fisheries management and the preservation of the marine environment.

Importance of Studying Fish Parasites

Assessing Fish and Aquaculture Health

Studying fish parasites helps identify the parasitic species affecting fish, evaluate their prevalence, and understand their impact on fish growth and survival. This knowledge enables the implementation of preventive and therapeutic measures to maintain fish health and improve aquaculture productivity.

Protecting Public Health

Some fish parasites can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked fish. Understanding the life cycles and geographic distribution of these parasites helps establish stricter food safety standards to protect consumers.

Evaluating Environmental Water Quality

Parasites can serve as bioindicators for assessing environmental water quality. The presence of certain parasite species may indicate water pollution or changes in environmental conditions.

Enhancing Understanding of Marine Biodiversity

Studying fish parasites provides deeper insights into symbiotic and parasitic relationships in marine ecosystems, contributing to a better understanding of marine biodiversity.

Developing New Treatments

Research into the interaction mechanisms between parasites and their hosts can lead to the development of new treatments for parasitic diseases in both fish and humans.

Main Research Areas in This Field:

Classification: Identifying the types of parasites that infect marine fish and studying their anatomical and biological characteristics.
Geographical Distribution: Investigating the distribution of various parasites in different geographical regions and the impact of environmental factors on their spread.
Life Cycle: Studying the life cycles of different parasites and how they are transmitted between hosts.
Impact of Parasites on Hosts: Examining the behavioral and physiological effects of parasites on host fish.
Parasite Control: Developing strategies to control parasites in fish and aquaculture systems.

Project Objectives

This project aims to achieve a set of key objectives, including:

Comprehensive Survey of Fish Parasites: Conduct a thorough survey of all types of parasites affecting fish in Libyan waters.
Species Identification: Identify and classify the different species of parasites using the latest technologies.
Prevalence and Density Studies: Determine the prevalence and density of parasitic infections across various fish species and geographic locations.
Impact Assessment: Evaluate the impact of these parasites on fish health, growth, and mortality rates.
Environmental Factors: Study the relationship between environmental factors (such as temperature, salinity, and pollution) and the distribution of parasites.
Risk Assessment: Assess the potential risks these parasites pose to human health.
Conservation Implications: Develop recommendations for fisheries management and the conservation of the marine environment.

The Research Team
The research team has published several scientific papers in prestigious journals and conferences, addressing various aspects of studying fish parasites in Libyan waters, including:

Altikbali, M.T., Showehdi, M.L., Benzeglam, S.A., Seif-Alnaser, A.A., and Shakman, E.A., 2024. Metazoan ectoparasites of Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the western coast of Libya. Open Veterinary Journal, 14(8), p.1771. http://dx.doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i8.4
Benzeglam, S.A., Showehdi, M.L., Seif-Alnaser, A.A., & Shakman, E.A., 2023. Parasite of Gnathia sp. in marine fishes of the western coast of Libya. Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology, 47(1), 47-52.
Seif Alnaser, A.A., Benzeglam, S.A., Showehdi, M., & Shakman, E.A., 2021. Parasites fauna in barracuda fishes in the western coast of Libya [Abstract]. In 3rd Conference on Environmental Sciences, Misurata, Libya (NR087, pp. 53-60). Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology.
Seif Alnaser, A., Benzeglam, S., Shwehdi, M., & Shakman, E., 2022. Parasites of alien fishes Sphyraena flavicuda Ruppell, 1838 and Sphyraena chrysotaenia. In 2nd Mediterranean Symposium on the Non-Indigenous Species (p. 133).

In addition to these publications, the research team has supervised several master’s theses in the field of zoology, further contributing to the understanding of fish parasites in the region.