A spatiotemporal dataset of invasive Anadara kagoshimensis and Anadara transversa in the Adriatic Sea.

Abstract

In response to the growing demand for accurate spatial and temporal information on the abundance and distribution of invasive species as required by EU regulations, data on two invasive bivalves have been collected annually through beam trawl surveys in the Adriatic Sea, as part of an international, fishery-independent monitoring programme. The compiled dataset comprises 1,998 records of Anadara kagoshimensis and Anadara transversa located in the Italian and international waters of the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea, and collected from 2008 to 2023. The records from this dataset represent georeferenced information on detections/non-detections including abundance and biomass information per sampled sites. This initiative highlights the potential of leveraging existing spatiotemporal data on invasive species to support their commercial harvesting and inform sustainable management practices, ultimately helping to mitigate their impact on native ecosystems.