Mediterranean coastlines face growing menace from toxic pufferfish

Authorities and marine experts have issued fresh warnings over the growing presence of the silver-cheeked toadfish, a highly toxic pufferfish species that has been increasingly reported in popular Mediterranean tourist destinations, amid rising incidents involving swimmers and fishermen.

The species, scientifically known as Lagocephalus sceleratus, is native to the Indian Ocean but has expanded into the Mediterranean Sea after migrating through the Suez Canal. Marine biologists say the fish's population has grown rapidly in recent years, aided by the absence of natural predators in the region, The Sun reports.

The silver-cheeked toadfish contains a powerful neurotoxin in its flesh that can cause severe poisoning, including heart and respiratory failure, if consumed. In addition to its toxicity, the fish is known for its strong jaws and sharp teeth, which have been responsible for injuries to swimmers and extensive damage to fishing equipment.

Last week, an elderly woman in Greece reportedly required stitches after being bitten by a silver-cheeked pufferfish near the coastal resort of Varkiza, south of Athens. The incident is among a growing number of encounters reported in Mediterranean waters.

Marine researcher and pufferfish expert Nota Peristeraki urged caution around the species.

“If you see this fish approaching you, you really need to avoid it,” she said.

“Some attacks have happened when people have tried to feed or touch the fish,” she added.

Peristeraki noted that serious injuries remain uncommon but have occurred.

“There have been a couple of cases of people losing a finger or a toe. That said, these are rare incidents,” she said.

“You are more likely to encounter a shark. If you go snorkelling, you might not even see pufferfish. We have found the remains of fishing nets and hooks inside their stomachs.”

The Greek Red Cross has issued guidance on treating pufferfish bite injuries, advising victims to immediately clean wounds with soap and water, apply pressure to stop bleeding, and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Medical treatment may include stitches and a tetanus vaccination.

The species has also become a major concern for the fishing industry. Fishermen across Greece report substantial economic losses caused by damaged nets and depleted catches.

“If one of these bites you, it will take your finger clean off. They are the destruction of the sea,” said Crete-based fisherman Alexis Charlambakis.

“They leave nothing behind. If this wasn’t my boat, I’d quit this profession for good. The situation is dire … we cannot survive.”

Another fisherman described the species as “an omnivorous fish that eats everything it encounters,” adding that “nothing seems to bother it, because it has no natural predators.”

Greek authorities are considering introducing a bounty system to encourage the removal of the fish from local waters, similar to a program already operating in Cyprus, where captured pufferfish are destroyed in specialized incinerators.

First detected in the eastern Mediterranean in 2003 and in Greek waters in 2005, the silver-cheeked toadfish has expanded its range significantly. It is now found throughout much of the Mediterranean, including waters near Italy and Spain. In Greece, the species is particularly prevalent around Crete, the Dodecanese Islands, and the popular tourist destination of Rhodes.

According to industry estimates, the invasive fish causes approximately £8,000 in annual losses per fishing vessel through damage to equipment and the consumption of commercially valuable marine species, including fish, squid, and crustaceans.

By Vafa Guliyeva