Greece’s Agriculture Ministry said Thursday it will pay €5.33 per kilogram to fishers for catching the invasive blunthead pufferfish, known locally as “lagocephalus,” as part of a pilot program aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.
The scheme will initially be introduced in the southern Aegean Sea and Crete, drawing criticism from fishers in other regions who were excluded from the program.
The announcement followed consultations with fishing representatives, who reportedly left a briefing meeting dissatisfied.
Alongside the bounty, the government announced temporary fuel subsidies for professional fishers, including €0.16 per liter for April and May and €0.12 per liter in June, as part of measures to reduce operating costs.
The ministry said the package is part of broader reforms to Greece’s fisheries policy focused on fleet modernization, generational renewal and tighter regulation of recreational fishing.
