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Greece pays fishermen to catch invasive pufferfish in Cretan waters

Thursday, 25 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

The Greek government has introduced a paid collection program for pufferfish (lagocephalus) caught in Cretan waters, offering fishermen €5.33 per kilogram. The initiative targets the invasive pufferfish species that has spread throughout the Mediterranean from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. Pufferfish pose a risk to local marine ecosystems and to the fishing industry, competing with native species and occasionally damaging nets. For tourists, the practical note is important: pufferfish are highly toxic if consumed and should never be eaten. If you see one washed up on a beach or offered informally, avoid contact and do not eat it. The bounty program is aimed at professional fishermen and is part of a broader Greek effort to manage invasive species along its coastlines, including in Crete.

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