tourism

Invasive Pufferfish Spotted in Crete Waters, But Swimmers Are Safe

Thursday, 9 July 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

The Technical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE) Crete division has issued a public advisory urging residents and tourists not to panic about the presence of pufferfish (lagocephalus) in Cretan waters. The pufferfish is an invasive species that has spread across the Mediterranean and is commonly spotted along Crete's coastline. While its flesh and organs contain a potent toxin (tetrodotoxin) that can be fatal if consumed, the fish poses no danger to swimmers or snorkelers. The risk is exclusively from eating it. Visitors should never purchase or consume pufferfish from any source, and should not touch or handle any fish found washed ashore. If you see a pufferfish while swimming, simply leave it alone. Report any unusual fish catches or sightings to local port authorities.

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