A toxic pufferfish that attacks swimmers and savages fishing nets has invaded the Mediterranean.The dangerous silver-cheeked toadfish has been spotted across Greece, which have been forced to erect extensive sea barriers to keep pests like the pufferfish and jellyfish away from swimmers.With fang-like teeth that can tear through bone, wood and metal, the Greek Red Cross issued an urgent alert over the aggressive invasive species.As well as a savage bite, the pufferfish's flesh and organs are potentially lethal as it contains the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which can cause heart and lung failure if ingested.Although typically found in the Indian Ocean, the species has invaded the Mediterranean after it is believed they followed warming seas by swimming up through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea.Cypriot fishermen were first to spot that their catch and nets were being decimated below the water. And while they have been in the Mediterranean since as early as 2003, their population has blossomed in recent years - especially in areas like top holiday destination Rhodes - and can be found as far west as Italy and Spain.Their brutal bite has turned to humans, with increasing reports of attacks on swimmers - only last week, an elderly Greek woman was left needing stitches after the fish unexpectedly lunged at her in Varkiza, near Athens. The dangerous silver-cheeked toadfish has been spotted across the Mediterranean, with fang-like teeth that can tear through bone, wood and metal Fishermen have complained of the pufferfish decimating their catch and their nets, while reports of attacks on humans are becoming more common And while they have been in the Mediterranean since as early as 2003, their population has blossomed in recent years, especially in areas like top holiday destination Rhodes (pictured)'If one of them bites you, it will simply cut off your finger. They destroy the sea. They don’t leave anything behind,' a Greek fisherman, Alexis Charalampakis, reportedly said.The Greek Red Cross have said that victims should seek emergency care if they are bitten as they can cause severe wounds.Clean water and soap should be used to clean the wound and to apply heavy pressure with a piece of gauze or clean cloth, before seeking professional medical help. Already, 2.5 kilometres of a floating barrier has been installed in some bays along Evia, Greece's second largest island.While the nets - the first floating barrier to be installed in Greece - were initially implemented to deal with the thick swarms of jellyfish that blighted the beaches last summer, the nets 'killed two birds with one stone', Chalkida's vice mayor Antonis Spanis reportedly said.'Our duty and primary concern has to be the safety of our citizens ,' he was reported to have said, but added that they promised a 'carefree summer'.A further seven kilometres of floating barriers with thickly woven netting are set to be delivered from Athens and experts are hoping that this should be strong enough to deter the creatures. Cypriot authorities first introduced financial incentives in 2024 to encourage fishermen to help support a government-backed eradication scheme by removing them from the waters.Since its introduction, more than one hundred tonnes of the pufferfish - which has no natural predators - has been destroyed.Athens announced a similar scheme last week where £4.56 (€5.33) was up for grabs for every kilogram of the fish surrendered to authorities, who would later incinerate it.Areas in the southern Aegean Sea and around Crete are also being offered fuel-subsidies as part of the EU-funded scheme.Nota Peristeraki of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research said that these pufferfish can contribute to £7,270 (€8,500) worth of damage and lost income, per France24. However, the Initiative to Save Pufferfish has been reported criticising the eradication efforts, instead arguing that the fish require 'protection and respect', according to The Guardian.Ioannis Batjakas, a marine biologist based in Lesbos, said the reports of attacks are exaggerated and that, like most fish, they would only lash out if provoked, per the newspaper.