Information on marine management policies for invasive lionfish in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

The invasion of lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in the Western Atlantic is perhaps the best studied marine fish invasion to date; meanwhile another lionfish invasion is rapidly evolving in the Mediterranean. We reviewed lionfish management policies from several decades in the Western Atlantic to suggest policy recommendations for the Mediterranean. These strategic recommendations are synthesized in our corresponding manuscript titled: “Lessons from the Western Atlantic lionfish invasion can inform policy and management strategies for their expanding invasion in the Mediterranean.” The policy information that we collected is included in full in this data repository. For this table, information was opportunistically gathered via online searches and discussion with professional and personal contacts for the affected jurisdictions in both the Western Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. Particular attention was devoted to collecting current information on policy changes that permitt...