Greeks Alarmed Over This Fish Loved by Koreans... No Natural Predators, Fishing Industry at Risk

Invasive Pufferfish Enter via Suez Canal
Severe Threat to Greek Fisheries Including Crete
Estimated Annual Damage of 8,500 Euros per Boat

Invasive pufferfish that consume everything in their path and even tear fishing nets are threatening Greece's fisheries.

Pufferfish discovered in Crete. Fishbase official website

According to Yonhap News, citing AFP on the 17th (local time), fishermen are suffering severe losses, including a sharp decline in catch, due to the explosive increase in the pufferfish population in areas such as Crete, Greece’s largest island.

Pufferfish, which inhabit warm seas, comprise over 200 species worldwide, with three species now established in the eastern Mediterranean. Among them, the primary culprit distressing fishermen is the silver-cheeked toadfish (scientific name: Lagocephalus sceleratus), which grows to a length of 40–60 cm. This species, originally native to the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean, is believed to have entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. Nota Peristeraki, a biologist at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), stated that pufferfish were first discovered in Greek waters in 2005.

This pufferfish has no natural predators and eats everything it encounters. Greek fisherman Yannis Giankakis told AFP, “Pufferfish are omnivorous and consume anything in their way. Among other fish, they appear to have no predators and thus nothing to fear.”

The threat is not limited to their voracious appetite. With strong beak-like mouths capable of biting through wood and metal, they not only prey on crabs, shrimp, and squid, but also tear fishing nets apart. HCMR estimates that each fishing boat suffers annual damages of 8,500 euros (approximately 14.9 million won) due to these pufferfish. Fisherman Alexis Charalambakis lamented, “If you get bitten, you could lose an entire finger. They are the destroyers of the sea.”

Disposal is also a major problem. Pufferfish contain a toxic substance called tetrodotoxin, which, if mishandled, can cause paralysis and respiratory failure, and can be fatal in severe cases. Even in Korea, where pufferfish is a popular delicacy, only certified chefs are allowed to prepare it.

Fishermen are calling on the government to intervene in order to reduce the pufferfish population. They argue that if subsidies are provided, they can directly hunt the fish and bring down their numbers. In February, then-Deputy Minister of Agriculture Christos Kellas told parliament that a support program for fishermen was under review. Neighboring Cyprus is already operating a program to curb pufferfish numbers.

Meanwhile, Greek scientists are researching ways to neutralize the pufferfish’s toxicity to make it marketable. Currently, pufferfish are classified as hazardous industrial waste—category 1 waste—meaning that, under European Union regulations, incineration is the only permitted disposal method. HCMR researcher Manolis Mandalakis said, “We are looking for alternatives that use less energy,” and suggested that pufferfish might eventually be used as fertilizer or fish feed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.