An incredible video captured by an experienced fisherman sheds light on one of the most extreme behaviors of the pufferfish — the invasive species that has been causing alarm in Greek waters for several years now. Determined to find out whether the terrifying stories circulating about this species are true, the fisherman decided to conduct a highly unusual experiment.
Read also: Pufferfish invasion mapped: How the toxic species surrounded Crete and the Aegean in 20 years
The shocking experiment: Greek fisherman films pufferfish “cannibalism” on video
His idea was simple yet utterly gripping: he used a whole pufferfish as bait and filmed what happened next. Within seconds, the truth was revealed in a deeply unsettling way. The pufferfish was savagely attacked by members of its own species, who devoured it with staggering speed, leaving nothing but bare bones behind. The video lays bare the harsh reality that professional fishermen face every single day. Pufferfish are proving to be not only destructive to the marine ecosystem, but shockingly aggressive — even toward their own kind. They do not hesitate to target fellow members of their species when those fish are injured, weakened, or caught on hooks and nets.
Watch the shocking video:
@zavras_fishing ΤΡΌΜΟΣ με τα Λαγόψαρα 😱 ΕΊΝΑΙ ΚΑΝΊΒΑΛΟΙ & Τρώνε τα ΠΆΝΤΑ 🆘 ΛΑΓΟΚΕΦΑΛΟΙ #zavrasfishing #sea #deadlyfish #sea #ψαρεμα ♬ πρωτότυπος ήχος – zavras_fishing
Fishermen’s testimonies and systematic observations continue to reinforce the picture of a species with an unprecedented cannibalistic streak. Many report that as soon as dead pufferfish sink back to the seabed, they are immediately consumed by others — effectively sustaining the species’ presence in the same areas. Research into the behavior of this particular fish is becoming increasingly urgent, as the need to address the consequences of its spread grows ever more pressing. Despite the challenges, fishermen remain on the front lines, struggling to adapt to the new reality that the pufferfish has imposed on Greek waters.
