Published on
16/06/2026 - 10:27 GMT+2
Professional fishers in Crete are in despair as pufferfish, an invasive species that entered the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal, continue to cause serious damage to marine biodiversity and their profits.
The problem affects many Mediterranean countries, with Cyprus and Greece among the hardest-hit areas. This poisonous, omnivorous fish has come to dominate in recent years and has extremely powerful jaws that can destroy nets, ropes and fishing equipment.
Fisherman Alexis Charalampakis describes the extent of the damage caused by the species: "They ate the fish and cut through the rope. Look at the damage – the gear is useless. After just five days of use I have to throw it away and buy new nets."
