tourism

Deadly Invasive Toadfish Now Common in Crete Waters

Saturday, 4 July 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

A father and his 8-year-old child came face to face with a lagocephalus (silver-cheeked toadfish) in shallow waters off Crete. This invasive species, originally from the Indo-Pacific, has become increasingly common in the Mediterranean and is considered highly dangerous: its flesh, organs, and skin contain tetrodotoxin, a potent poison with no known antidote. Swimmers and snorkelers should be aware of its appearance, a silvery, rounded fish with a blunt head, and must never touch or handle one. It should never be consumed under any circumstances. If you spot one near the shore, exit the water calmly and alert local authorities or a lifeguard. Children should be supervised closely in shallow coastal areas where the species has been sighted.

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