Mediterranean fan worm can be a creature of beauty or a pest depending on where you are in the world
This beauty, endemic to the Mediterranean, has managed to travel and establish itself in far away places on the other side of the planet.
In New Zealand, for example, the Mediterranean fan worm is considered a threat to shellfish farms as it competes with all other filter feeders for food and space.
To combat this problem, mariners are encouraged to be careful where they dispose their ballast and bilge water and to report sightings of new fan worm infestation. Also, some marinas will ask for evidence of hull cleaning and antifouling.
Mediterranean fanworm can live in most artificial and natural habitats in the marine environment but will not tolerate freshwater. It prefers sheltered, nutrient-enriched waters and is generally found in shallow subtidal areas in depths from 1 to 30m. It attaches to a range of solid surfaces including artificial materials as well as rocks, concrete, wood, steel, and benthic organisms (ascidians, mussels, oysters). It is a common fouling species on moored vessels including car ferries, fishing boats and pleasure craft. It can also be found on soft substrates, generally attached to a small buried fragment of shell or rock.
Other types of fanworm that can be found around the Maltese coast
