The continuous spread of the pufferfish in Greek waters is raising serious concerns. This highly toxic invasive species is unfit for human consumption and is causing significant problems for both professional fishermen and marine ecosystems. On Monday morning, Spyros Protokpsaltis appeared on Mega TV to address the issue, revealing that the Greek government is considering introducing a financial incentive for fishermen to increase the targeted catch of this species.
Responding to a related question, he stated: “For months, we have been working on a plan that we have submitted to the European Commission. We are looking to see if we can set a price higher than what Cyprus offers. There, it was €3 per kilogram, and they raised it to €4.73. In our discussions with fishermen’s representatives, they have explained to us that €4.73 is not a strong enough incentive, given the rising cost of fuel and all the other operational challenges they face. I don’t want to name specific figures, but we are aiming for more than €4.73. The goal is to provide an incentive — it’s more of a financial support measure for fishermen.”
“The pufferfish is here to stay”
“The pufferfish, from the moment it entered the Mediterranean, is here to stay. The question is how we can control its population. We will carry out targeted fishing during breeding seasons. It is a toxic fish. There are special management protocols and specific regulations in place. It’s not simply a matter of catching pufferfish and discarding them. They must be counted, placed in specialized refrigeration units, and then transported to a furnace for incineration,” he added.
