The security implications of marine non-indigenous species on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast: An analysis from a vernacular security perspective

Marine non-indigenous species (NIS) have become a growing concern in the Eastern Mediterranean, producing intertwined ecological, economic, and human security concerns. This study adopts a vernacular security lens to examine how ‘security’ is articulated in everyday language and practice by those who encounter NIS directly and who are responsible for governance and response. The study focuses on four coastal provinces in Türkiye and aims to reveal the security perceptions of relevant actors through a qualitative methodology. 77 semi-structured interviews were conducted across these cities, and the results were analyzed through MAXQDA. Findings show that fishermen frame insecurity primarily through immediate livelihood losses (gear damage, reduced catch, rising costs), while tourism actors emphasize reputational sensitivity and selective risk communication. Institutional representatives highlight governability through awareness work and existing policy instruments, yet participants also report coordination gaps and uneven follow-up to complaints. Species-based narratives concentrate on Lagocephalus sceleratus (pufferfish) as the most disruptive species, alongside locally salient pressures linked to Pomadasys stridens and ambivalent views on Pterois miles (lionfish). Overall, vernacular security helps reveal how NIS impacts are experienced as cumulative, everyday disruptions and how mismatches between lived experience and institutional framings shape trust, reporting, and perceived manageability.