Greece introduces payments for catching pufferfish, a poisonous species damaging the marine ecosystem

A rapid spread of pufferfish is being recorded in the Aegean Sea, and this invasive species, besides being poisonous, is also causing serious concern for the marine ecosystem.

To curb its presence, the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food announced that it will offer financial rewards for catching pufferfish. The scheme is intended for professional fishermen in the area around Crete and in the southern Aegean Sea, with 5.33 euros to be paid for every kilogram of this invasive species.

The program has been welcomed by fishermen’s associations, which stress that the presence of this fish is significantly hampering their activity while also disrupting the balance of marine life.

According to the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), this species has a high ability to adapt to different environments and faces few natural predators, which helps it spread further. Its rapid reproduction is also displacing and threatening native species.

Pufferfish can grow to around 40 centimeters in length and weigh up to 9 kilograms. It originates from the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal, where it was first identified in 2003.

A problem in Turkey as well

Greek Minister of Rural Development and Food Margaritis Skynas told Greek media that “our goal is to create incentives, but, to tell the truth, I do not believe we will see spectacular changes,” because, according to him, the complete eradication of this species is not possible. He clarified that the main objective remains limiting the pufferfish population.

In Turkish waters as well, where this species has been a problem for years and where rewards are also offered for catching it, the policy is considered successful.

According to Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, around 290,000 pufferfish were caught last year, a figure believed to have prevented the increase of around 22 million new individuals of this species.