Cyprus implements program to manage silver-cheeked toadfish population

The Republic of Cyprus has implemented a state-funded initiative to curb the proliferation of the invasive silver-cheeked toadfish, also known as pufferfish. Since June 2024, approximately 150 professional fishermen across eleven groups have participated in the effort to mitigate damage to local ecosystems and fishing gear. Data shows that over 103 tons of this toxic species have been caught since the inception of the program. The government, supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, pays 4.73 euros per kilogram of fish caught. To date, approximately 487,000 euros have been disbursed to participants. While authorities aim to protect the local fishing industry, the exact population size of the species in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone remains unknown due to a lack of formal scientific surveys. The initiative is scheduled to run until the end of 2029 to address the threat posed by the tetrodotoxin-carrying fish, which entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.