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Greece Launches Bounty Program to Combat Toxic Puffer Fish Invasion

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

Greece has introduced a bounty program to combat the spread of the Lagocephalus sceleratus, a highly toxic puffer fish that has established itself in Greek and Cretan waters. Fishermen receive financial incentives for each fish caught and removed from the sea. The species, originally from the Indo-Pacific, entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and poses a serious health risk: its flesh and organs contain tetrodotoxin, a powerful poison with no antidote. Symptoms of poisoning include numbness, paralysis, and in severe cases death. Tourists visiting Crete should avoid purchasing or consuming unfamiliar fish from informal vendors and stick to licensed restaurants. Do not touch puffer fish if encountered on beaches or in shallow water. The bounty scheme aims to reduce the population before peak summer season.

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