A subsidy program for catching pufferfish is set to be launched in the very near future, as the invasive species has spread significantly across Greek waters this summer season. The initiative was announced by Secretary General of Rural Development Spyros Prototsaltis during an interview on ERT. According to him, the subsidy will exceed €4.73 per kilogram and will also cover operational costs, bringing the total support to over €5 per kilogram.
Read more: The garfish and three other fish that could drive pufferfish out of Greek waters
Pufferfish fishing subsidies: Who gets priority
The plan is modeled on the compensation scheme already in place in Cyprus, where fishermen receive payments for catching pufferfish. Priority will be given to Crete and the Dodecanese, the regions recording the highest concentration of the species.
It is worth noting that the pufferfish has established a permanent presence in the Mediterranean, as it reproduces with remarkable ease. Rising sea water temperatures are also creating increasingly favorable conditions for its survival. Experts, however, remain reassuring about the likelihood of swimmers encountering pufferfish directly.
What fish eat pufferfish
In Greek and Mediterranean waters, only certain species have been observed preying on pufferfish. Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are the primary predators of adult fish, while juveniles fall prey to a different set of hunters. The garfish and three other fish capable of eliminating pufferfish from Greek waters include the dusky grouper, dolphins, and the pufferfish itself through cannibalism.
The phenomenon of cannibalism among pufferfish has only recently been identified, a behavior researchers link to overpopulation of the species. Additionally, the Atlantic bluefin tuna has been recorded in separate observations as a pufferfish predator, adding yet another species to the list of natural enemies.
The traits that make the pufferfish so hard to control
The pufferfish belongs to the Tetraodontidae family and possesses four exceptionally powerful, fused teeth that continuously regenerate. These allow it to consume hard-shelled prey such as crabs, gastropods, and sea urchins, giving it access to rich and varied food sources.
Only in Cyprus, and more recently in Turkey since 2021, have fishermen reward programs been implemented to control pufferfish populations through targeted human intervention.
