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Greece Pays Fishermen to Catch Invasive Rabbitfish

Friday, 26 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

Greece has launched a paid incentive program encouraging local fishermen to catch rabbitfish, an invasive species spreading across Greek waters including around Crete. Under the program, fishermen receive 5.33 euros per kilogram of rabbitfish caught, managed through the agricultural payments agency OPEKEPE. Rabbitfish, originally from the Red Sea, entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal and have multiplied rapidly, damaging native marine ecosystems and seagrass beds. For visitors, this means rabbitfish may increasingly appear on menus at coastal tavernas in Crete, where it is sometimes served grilled or fried. The fish is considered safe and edible, with a mild flavor. The initiative supports both local fishermen's incomes and the health of Cretan coastal waters that snorkelers and divers enjoy.

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