Greek Towns Install 7km of Floating Barriers Against Toxic Pufferfish as €5.33-a-Kilo Cull Expands
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 6
Greek Towns Install 7km of Floating Barriers Against Toxic Pufferfish as €5.33-a-Kilo Cull Expands
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 6
Summary
An estimated 7km of floating barriers will be delivered to the Gulf of Euboea in coming weeks as more municipalities install nets off beaches after Greece’s first barrier went up in Chalkida last month.
The expansion follows a June Greek Red Cross warning that bites from invasive pufferfish can cause severe bleeding, while the fish’s tetrodotoxin makes it potentially lethal to eat; the same nets also block purple jellyfish.
Chalkida officials say 2.5km of barriers are being set around bays to make swimming safer, responding to public concern after last summer’s jellyfish surge and reports of warming waters favoring the species’ spread.
Athens last week launched a parallel cull, paying fishers €5.33 per kilogram of surrendered pufferfish and offering fuel subsidies, after Cyprus removed more than 103 tonnes under a similar eradication program.
Scientists and residents remain split: some fishers call the measures too late for a climate-driven shift in the eastern Mediterranean, while some marine experts say attacks on humans are rare and the threat is overstated.
Is Greece's costly war on toxic pufferfish a futile battle against the tide of climate change?
Greece is incinerating tons of toxic fish. Could this invasive pest actually be a valuable resource?
Greece’s Bounty Program Against Silver-Cheeked Toadfish: Evaluating Immediate Actions, Ecological Threats, and Long-Term Solutions for a Warming Mediterranean
Overview
As of July 2026, Greece is facing an escalating invasion of the silver-cheeked toadfish, an inedible and highly invasive species that entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal as waters warmed. This aggressive fish preys on native species like the red mullet and damages fishing gear with its strong jaws, threatening local marine ecosystems and the fishing industry. In response, Greece launched a bounty program to encourage fishermen to capture the toadfish, aiming to reduce its population and protect both the environment and livelihoods. This targeted action highlights the urgent need for adaptive strategies against invasive species driven by climate change.