Venomous fish with finger-biting jaws threatens Mediterranean swimmers

Swimmers in popular Mediterranean vacation spots are being warned about the arrival of the silver-cheeked pufferfish, a species originally from the Indian Ocean that has entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. The fish possesses powerful jaws capable of severing fingers and toes, and its body contains a neurotoxin that can lead to heart and lung failure.

Greek media has reported an incident where an elderly woman was attacked by the fish, sustaining a wound so deep it required hospitalization. Beyond posing a threat to swimmers, fishermen describe the pufferfish as "destroyers of the sea." They damage fishing nets and consume catches, causing significant economic losses for fishing communities.

To address the growing problem, Cyprus has introduced a financial incentive program. Individuals who catch and bring the pufferfish to shore receive compensation, after which the fish are incinerated. The silver-cheeked pufferfish was first identified in the eastern Mediterranean in 2003 and in Greek waters by 2005. In recent years, its population has surged, and it has spread westward towards Italy, Spain, and other parts of the western Mediterranean. In Greece, the fish is particularly prevalent around Crete and the Dodecanese islands, including the popular tourist destination of Rhodes.

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They leave nothing behind.