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Toxic Pufferfish Invasion: Crete Now Home to Greece's Largest Population

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

Crete has the largest population of pufferfish (lagocephalus) in Greece, according to a statement made on June 26, 2026 by G. Androulakis on ANT1's morning program. The lagocephalus, also known as the silver-cheeked toadfish, is an invasive species that has spread throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. It is highly toxic and must never be eaten, as its organs contain tetrodotoxin, a potentially fatal poison. Tourists swimming or fishing along Cretan coasts may encounter these fish. If you see one, do not touch or attempt to eat it. Fishermen who accidentally catch pufferfish are required to report and discard them. The species poses no direct threat to swimmers but remains a serious concern for anyone consuming locally caught fish from unverified sources.

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