Silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), a toxic species with razor-sharp teeth and a powerful neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, are invading Greek waters just as the tourist season peaks. The fish, which can cause heart and lung failure if consumed, have migrated from the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, attracted by warming waters due to climate change.
Government Bounty Program Launched
Starting Friday, Greece's government is offering €5.33 per kilogram for catches of the fish. Agriculture Minister Margaritis Schinas, a former European Commission vice president, announced the measure ahead of its launch, marking the first time such a program has been implemented in Greece. The fish will be frozen and incinerated at local government facilities, with plans to expand the program from affected areas to all Greek waters.
Impact on Fishermen
Fishermen off the coast of Crete and other islands report significant damage. Giorgos Kyriakakis, of a Cretan fishermen's association, told Greek public broadcaster ERT: 'It's got to the point where we might go out fishing one day and then spend the next three days fixing our nets. They eat our catch and damage our nets — that's very costly.'
Public Safety Concerns
An elderly Greek woman was bitten by a pufferfish last week while swimming off a beach in Varkiza, near Athens, requiring stitches. The Greek Red Cross has issued a public health warning, outlining first-aid protocols for bites and warning of the deadly neurotoxin in the fish's organs. Nota Peristeraki, a pufferfish expert from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, told The Telegraph: 'If you see it approaching you, you really need to avoid it. Some attacks have happened when people have tried to feed or touch the fish. There have been a couple of cases of people losing a finger or a toe.' However, he noted that such incidents are rare, adding: 'You are more likely to encounter a shark.'
Authorities Urge Calm
Authorities and businesses on Crete have cautioned against overreaction. A statement issued Friday by 16 medical and tourism associations on Crete said: 'The presence of these fish in the Mediterranean has been known for years. There is, however, no 'invisible' or imminent danger to bathers. Marine predators do not threaten the safety of visitors and residents. Exaggeration is often a feature of public debate.'
Broader Invasion
Cyprus launched a similar catch program earlier this year. The fish have wreaked havoc by chomping through nets and eating catches, but authorities say they have not been sighted in bathing areas at Greek island resorts.
