Cyprus removes 145 tons of invasive pufferfish under government management plan

Over the past two years, professional fishermen in Cyprus have caught approximately 145 tons of pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) as part of a targeted program to mitigate the impact of this invasive and aggressive species. According to Nikoletta Varnava of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the initiative is funded with a budget of €1,304,000, with 70% provided by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Since June 2024, €685,000 has been distributed to 11 professional fishing groups, who are responsible for compensating individual fishermen based on the weight of the catch delivered for disposal.

The collected fish are transported to a licensed facility for incineration to ensure safe handling. This current management plan is scheduled to remain in effect until December 2029. Efforts to control the rising population of this species in Cypriot waters have been ongoing since 2012, reflecting long-term environmental strategies to protect local marine biodiversity from the destructive habits of the pufferfish.