Reports of pufferfish attacking swimmers in Greek waters are unfounded and based on unverified information, a leading marine conservation organization has said.
“There are no recorded incidents of attacks,” said Anastasia Charitou of iSea, referring to concerns surrounding the invasive silver-cheeked toadfish, or Lagocephalus sceleratus.
According to Charitou, the few incidents cited in places such as Kalymnos and Cyprus occurred when the fish were found in shallow water and bathers attempted to feed or touch them.
She said there was “no reason” for swimmers to take precautions against attacks from the species, adding that the reported encounters were cases of people harassing wildlife rather than fish attacking humans.
“Instead of seriously discussing the spread of alien species, their impacts on ecosystems and the need for a unified national management strategy, the public debate is once again reduced to shouting, oversimplifications and communication fireworks,” Charitou said.
