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Greece Offers Cash Bounties to Catch Deadly Invasive Pufferfish

Monday, 29 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

Greece has launched a bounty program to combat the spread of the silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), an invasive and highly toxic pufferfish species found in Greek waters, including around Crete. Fishermen receive financial incentives for each pufferfish caught and reported, aiming to reduce the population of this dangerous species. The fish contains tetrodotoxin, a powerful poison with no known antidote, making it extremely hazardous if consumed. The species has been spreading through the Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal for several years. For visitors to Crete, the key advice is simple: never purchase or eat pufferfish, and only buy fish from licensed restaurants and markets. If you spot one while swimming or diving, do not touch it. The program is a positive step toward protecting both marine ecosystems and public safety.

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